COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — South Carolina has lost one of its most anticipated offensive newcomers for the season after tailback MarShawn Lloyd tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee at practice.
Gamecocks coach Will Muschamp said it was a non-contact injury during workouts Wednesday.
“He just planted his foot and tore his ACL,” Muschamp said.
Lloyd is a 5-foot-9, 210 pound running back from Wilmington, Delaware. He was considered the country’s fourth-best tailback prospect by Rivals and the fifth best by 247 Sports.
Lloyd had enrolled in the spring and was expected to play a big role in the backfield, where last year’s leading rushers in Tavien Feaster and Rico Dowdle were both seniors last season.
There is no date set for Lloyd’s surgery.
While the news on Lloyd was crushing for hopes of the 2020 Gamecocks, the program did get a huge boost on the recruiting trail Thursday, with Georgia prep quarterback Gunner Stockton committing to South Carolina and Coach Muschamp.
Stockton is an elite five-star prospect from Tiger, Georgia, ranked the #1 dual-threat quarterback in the Class of 2022 by 247Sports, placing him as the #30 recruit overall. He is the first commit for South Carolina in the 2022 class.
Staying in the SEC, Thursday was a difficult, but perhaps not unexpected, day at Vanderbilt University, as the Commodores football program confirmed reports that “multiple players” have tested positive for the coronavirus. The football team did not practice on Friday.
A statement from the university in Nashville says, “As part of our ongoing testing procedures, we have been made aware of positive COVID-19 test results in our football program. We are following the university’s protocols and we are working closely with our Public Health Command Center and other health officials who are assessing potential close contacts and advising on additional steps.”
Vanderbilt is scheduled to open the season on Saturday, September 26th in College Station, Texas against the Texas A&M Aggies.