South Carolina star Deebo Samuel to return in 2018

The South Carolina Gamecocks’ future looks a little brighter after star wide receiver, kick returner, and overall electrifying football human Deebo Samuel announced he will return in 2018.

Samuel, who fractured his fibula earlier this season against Kentucky, had been working hard to get back on the field, and team doctors had not officially declared his season over. Before the Georgia game, rumors swirled about his return, and his name even appeared on the travel roster. But he was a last-minute scratch and didn’t make it to Athens, so the wait continued.

Sunday evening, coach Will Muschamp updated Samuel’s status during his teleconference. For those hoping to see Samuel again in 2017, it was bad news: The junior is out for the season after spraining his foot during rehab. Muschamp went on to say he hadn’t spoken with Samuel about his future, but would do so at a more appropriate time.

Samuel, however, took matters into his own hands. Shortly after the teleconference, he tweeted the following statement:

This is fantastic news for the Gamecocks. As far as I was concerned, I didn’t see the value in trying to rush Samuel back and risk further jeopardizing his health. For the same reason, I wouldn’t have blamed him if he’d decided to make the jump to the NFL. But now South Carolina fans can rest assured he’s getting the treatment he needs, and can look forward to seeing Samuel make more plays in 2018.