South Carolina entered its bye week looking to recover from a few nagging injuries after a bruising battle with Kentucky, and overall, the Gamecocks appear to be in fairly good shape as they prepare for this weekend’s trip to No. 11 LSU.
The program released its first official SEC availability report on Wednesday night, offering a clearer look at who might be ready to go in Baton Rouge.
Key Injury Updates
Starting right tackle Cason Henry and interior lineman Nolan Hay were both listed as doubtful for Saturday’s game, while guard Markee Anderson has officially been ruled out.
On defense, cornerbacks Judge Collier and Myles Norwood, along with defensive tackle Troy Pikes, are all questionable, according to the report.
Both Henry and Hay missed the Kentucky game two weeks ago. Head coach Shane Beamer had expressed optimism afterward that both might return in time for LSU, but lingering issues have kept their statuses uncertain.
Henry, who originally injured his shoulder in the Vanderbilt game, attempted a comeback against Missouri but left after just one play with pain in the same shoulder. Hay, meanwhile, made his first career start against Missouri before exiting with a knee injury.
Positive Signs in the Secondary
There was at least one encouraging note: Judge Collier returned to action against Kentucky, seeing limited snaps after missing nearly the entire season with a knee injury. The staff plans to gradually increase his workload. “He looked good coming off that knee,” Beamer said earlier this week, noting that Collier’s availability gives the secondary a needed boost.
SEC Injury Report Policy
The SEC’s new player availability system, introduced last season, requires teams to submit updates three days before each football game, with daily adjustments leading up to a final report 90 minutes before kickoff.
For South Carolina, additional updates will be released Thursday at 8 p.m., followed by another on Friday, and the final pregame report on Saturday evening. Beamer is also expected to discuss player status further during his Thursday night call-in show.
Penalties for inaccurate or late submissions are steep — ranging from $25,000 to $100,000 in football, and $15,000 to $25,000 for basketball and baseball — ensuring that schools report accurately and on time.
Player designations follow the NFL-style model: before game day, players are listed as available, probable, doubtful, or questionable. On game day, the options narrow to available, game-time decision, or out.
Looking Ahead
The Gamecocks return to action on Saturday, Oct. 11, when they head to Tiger Stadium to take on LSU under the lights. Kickoff is set for 7:45 p.m. ET on SEC Network, with South Carolina aiming to get healthy — and stay competitive — against one of the toughest teams in the conference.
