Availability Report: DJ Waller Jr. ruled out for Kentucky, Gamecocks down 2 key OL

Our second SEC Availability Report of the week came with a hit to Kentucky’s secondary.

Each Wednesday of SEC contests, both schools will share an availability report. It will be updated nightly, with one final ruling an hour before kickoff on Saturdays. Players must be listed as out (0% chance to play), doubtful (25% chance to play), questionable (50% chance to play), or probable (75% chance to play).

Thursday night’s report saw Kentucky receive some bad (but expected) news about a starting cornerback, while South Carolina’s offensive line took a significant hit. The Wildcats and Gamecocks will collide on Saturday at 7:45 p.m. ET (SEC Network) in Columbia. Here is the latest on each team’s health.

Kentucky’s Availability Report

• DL Nic Smith: Out
• WR David Washington Jr.: Out
• WR Preston Bowman: Out
• RB Jamarion Wilcox: Out
• TE Elijah Brown: Out
• CB DJ Waller Jr.: Out
• QB Zach Calzada: Questionable
• OL Aba Selm: Questionable

There was only one change for the ‘Cats in Thursday night’s update: starting cornerback DJ Waller Jr. will officially sit out for a third consecutive game. This comes just one year after the former Michigan transfer missed five games in his first season at UK. But Terhyon Nichols is back in the fold after missing the second half against Eastern Michigan with an injury. Wide receiver Troy Stellato and defensive tackle Josaih Hayes will also be back in action after missing the last game. Backup quarterback Zach Calzada remains questionable as he deals with a shoulder injury.

South Carolina’s Availability Report

• OL Cason Henry: Out
• OL Nolan Hay: Out
• DB Buddy Mack III: Doubtful
• DL Gabriel Brownlow-Dindy: Probable
• DB Judge Collier: Probable

The Gamecocks are dealing with multiple injuries in the trenches. Starting right tackle Cason Henry is arguably South Carolina’s best offensive lineman and will miss a consecutive SEC game on Saturday. Incarnate Word transfer Nolan Hay started at center last week, but he will also be out of the lineup, putting the Gamecocks down two starting OL. Texas A&M transfer Gabriel Brownlow-Dindy, who has been playing good football, was upgraded from doubtful to probable. Starting cornerback Judge Collier has not played since Week 1, but was also upgraded to probable.

Some good and bad for the Gamecocks in Thursday’s report.

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