As you know, South Carolina will be without a handful of players due to suspension and injury for the season opener, the most notable being DeVonte Holloman (suspension after DUI arrest), Victor Hampton (suspension for undisclosed violations of team rules), and Brison Williams (injury; out for several weeks). Holloman is a team leader and All-SEC possibility at spur, while Hampton and Williams are key reserves in the secondary. While their absence will undoubtedly cost Carolina, particularly against a pass-happy offense that will test our secondary, ECU is suffering itself. It will be without the following players:
WR Justin Jones (knee injury)
WR Michael Bowman (suspension)
CB Emanuel Davis (suspension)
OL Drew Gentry (injury)
DL Leroy Vick (knee injury)
DE John Lattimore (Achilles injury)
Davis, Gentry, and Vick are reserves, but Jones, Bowman, Davis, and Lattimore were each expected to be major contributors. Davis is the biggest loss; he is a two-time All-CUSA selection at CB with solid NFL potential, and he would have likely been the guy ECU pitted against Alshon Jeffery. Bowman is expected to be one of ECU's leading receivers. Jones is a key cog in the receiver rotation and Lattimore was a potential starter at his position. These losses will cost ECU in a game where it will need to be at its absolute best to win.