Lorenzo Nunez could miss spring after Saturday injury

Sophomore quarterback Lorenzo Nunez suffered a knee injury in Saturday’s practice, according to two sources, that could keep him out of the remainder of spring practice and could eliminate him from the race for South Carolina’s starting quarterback position.

Nunez, a dynamic runner who was a four-star prospect out of Georgia, started two games at quarterback last year. He played in eight games overall, completing 32-of-52 passes for 376 yards, three touchdowns and three interceptions. He was also South Carolina’s second-leading rusher with 59 carries for 375 yards.

Nunez suffered a sprained LCL and a hyper-extended knee, a source told The State. A school official asked for confirmation of the injury responded via text “nothing to report.”

Saturday’s practice was closed to the media and public. Gamecocks players and coaches haven’t been available to the media since Thursday. South Carolina returns to the practice field Tuesday afternoon.

The Gamecocks rotated five players – Nunez, senior Perry Orth, junior Connor Mitch, sophomore Michael Scarnecchia and freshman Brandon McIlwain – at quarterback during the first week of spring practice, and the coaching staff has been eager to trim that number to three or fewer.

“I think it’s too early to talk about that,” Roper said. “Obviously, he’s a guy who can make plays with his feet, but right now we’re trying to see if he can be the quarterback.”

This story was originally published March 21, 2016 at 12:01 PM with the headline "Lorenzo Nunez could miss spring after Saturday injury."