Steve Spurrier was eager to announce on Monday that the Gamecocks would switch quarterbacks before next Saturday's game. He did not anticipate having to switch linebackers, as well. Senior Jasper Brinkley will miss the rest of the season after spraining his right knee against No. 2 LSU on Saturday. The 6-foot-2, 262-pound middle linebacker has not yet chosen a date for his surgery.
LSU will be at a two-man disadvantage when the Tigers take on South Carolina this weekend. After injuring a knee in Wednesday's practice, starting defensive tackle Charles Alexander is gone for the season, leaving the No. 2 Tigers in a somber mood before they take on the 12th-ranked Gamecocks. LSU will have quarterback Matt Flynn back in action, but wide receiver Early Doucet is unlikely to play. Head coach Les Miles has been intentionally vague about the severity of Doucet's injury, but Alexander is definitely gone, while South Carolina will have cornerback Brandon Isaac back in action come Saturday.
Playing in the nation's toughest conference means taking some big hits, even when you win, and after this week, no one knows that better than Florida, South Carolina and Mississippi State. Each team put up a big win over the weekend, but took a big hit in personnel in the process - florida lost linebacker Jeremy Finch, South Carolina is missing tight end Weslye Saunders and Mississippi State is down quarterback Michael Henig.
South Carolina is is going to need all the help they can get when they head to Athens to take on No. 11 Georgia this afternoon, but the Gamecocks have quite a few players who will not be offering their services when 5:45 rolls around. Among the list of those who are out: Offensive guard Kevin Young (ankle), linebacker Yvan Banang (knee) running back Bobby Wallace (collarbone) and quarterback Chris Smelley (shoulder). Linebacker Melvin Ingram is probable, but strong safety Emanuel Cook and linebacker Cody Wells are both questionable. On the Georgia side, only running back Kregg Lumpkin is out, still nursing that broken thumb.
