Shane Beamer updates statuses of two South Carolina receivers
South Carolina’s roster appears to have taken another hit ahead of its matchup with Notre Dame in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl on Friday.
Shane Beamer spoke to the media after the Gamecocks first practice in Jacksonville Monday and told the media that the time will be without Josh Vann, and likely will be without Jalen Brooks.
“Vann is not here right now, he won’t play this week,” Beamer said. “Brooks is doubtful, still working through some things off the field.”
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Vann is dealing with a knee injury he suffered early in the Gamecocks’ win over Clemson. He is still listed on South Carolina’s bowl roster and two-deep depth chart.
Brooks is not listed on the two-deep depth chart, but Beamer said last week that he will continue to practice with the team.
“He’s dealing with a little bit off the field issue right now,” Beamer said Wednesday, Dec. 21. “He’s still practicing with us…and will be with us next week in Jacksonville.”
True to his word, Brooks was out practicing with the Gamecocks on Monday.
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Losing both Vann and Brooks will deplete an already thin receiving core for Beamer and company. Brooks totaled 504 receiving yards this season and Vann totaled 296 receiving yards this season, those numbers are good for second and third among all other Gamecocks.
With the departure of Jaheim Bell and Austin Stogner, South Carolina could be down four out of their top five receivers ahead of the bowl game matchup with Notre Dame.
In other player availability news, Christian Beal-Smith is “full go”, according to Beamer, but he wouldn’t classify him as “100 percent”.
“He did everything today. In Columbia, he was a little bit limited, where we were just kind of building him up each day, but he was he was 100 percent full go today,” Beamer said. “There’s nothing we held him out of. He may tell you his body feels 100 percent, I don’t know, but as far as being cleared to do everything – yes, he did everything today.”
South Carolina had its first bowl practice Monday morning in Jacksonville.
The Gamecocks will practice three more times before the game Friday. They’ll practice Tuesday and Wednesday morning then Thursday afternoon.
South Carolina kicks off the Gator Bowl at 3:30 p.m ET on Friday. The Gamecocks will play Notre Dame with the game televised on ABC.
