Shane Beamer updates South Carolina’s injuries after SC State game
A normally optimistic Shane Beamer sat in his postgame press conference following the No. 10 Gamecocks win over S.C. State, giving an ominous forecast about the health of his squad.
“It’s not good,” Beamer said.
Coming into the the home-opener, South Carolina was without top cornerback Judge Collier and edge Jatius Geer, both of whom were injured in the Virginia Tech game. Starting Nickelback Jalon Kilgore also didn’t suit up for the S.C. State matchup.
As Saturday’s game against the Bulldogs progressed, the Gamecocks turned into a triage unit.
Nickelbacks Brandon Cisse and Jaquel Holman both left the game in the first quarter with injuries — forcing fourth-stringer Kelvin Hunter into extended action. Later in the game, the Gamecocks would also lose left tackle Josiah Thompson, guard Markee Anderson, DB/punt returner Vicari Swain and tight end Brady Hunt to injuries.
On Sunday night, Beamer provided updates on his banged-up squad. Here’s the status of the injured Gamecocks.
“We’re better today than I thought we might be last night when I talked with you guys,” Beamer said. “Feel pretty optimistic on everyone — as we sit here today — in regards to being able to play Saturday night against Vanderbilt.”
The only player who will be getting additional tests done is Hunt, according to Beamer.
“Still getting some of the results back,” with Hunt, Beamer said. “So keeping our fingers crossed and prayers for him that we get a good report here this afternoon. But everybody else is trending to be able to play this weekend.”
Cisse collided with edge rusher Bryan Thomas Jr. on a tackle on the game’s first drive. Though he appeared to motion to take himself out of the game, he stayed in and finished the drive. Holman replaced him on the next series.
“Thought he was good,” Beamer said of Cisse, “and we looked at him on the sideline and thought he was good, and then he didn’t feel like he could go anymore. So that’s why he came out.”
Swain, who had two punt returns for touchdowns in the first half, “was a little banged up and wasn’t able to return” in the second half, Beamer said.
Asked about veteran receiver Jared Brown — who didn’t play against Virginia Tech and was limited vs. S.C. State — Beamer said: “He’s battling with a little something. I wouldn’t say he’s necessarily 100 percent. He certainly wasn’t against Virginia Tech, and he was a lot closer to it last night.”
The first official SEC injury reports — where coaches must declare injured players probable, questionable, doubtful or out — come out this week. Those reports are only for conference games and are released daily through gameday, starting Wednesday night.
This story was originally published September 7, 2025 at 5:04 PM.
