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On the off chance the SEC’s gambit at a (mostly) full football season in 2020 actually plays out, the South Carolina Gamecocks will be without one of their most hyped and anticipated players.
Freshman running back MarShawn Lloyd tore the ACL in his left knee at Wednesday’s practice, as the Post and Courier confirmed after several anxiety-packed moments of panicked posts on Gamecock Twitter.
Lloyd, a former four-star prospect out of Maryland who was ranked fifth nationally at his position by 247Sports, is the highest-rated running back to join the program since the legendary Marcus Lattimore.
South Carolina only just opened its fall camp on Monday, but the 5-foot-9, 210-pounder was already turning heads and drawing praise from coaches and teammates.
DeShaun Fenwick says MarShawn Lloyd looks like an freshman all-SEC player. "Extraordinary"
— Ben Breiner (@BreinerTheState) August 20, 2020
Unfortunately, fans will have to wait to see for themselves. Worst part? It was a non-contact injury, according to coach Will Muschamp.
What a devastating blow. Freshman RB MarShawn Lloyd has a torn ACL and will not play in 2020. Muschamp: "I'm extremely disappointed for MarShawn. It was a non-contact situation where he just planted his foot and tore his ACL." @TheAthleticCFB
— Josh Kendall (@JoshTheAthletic) August 20, 2020
To say this is a devastating blow to the Gamecocks is an understatement, even if we’re all used to various manifestations of the Chicken Curse at this point. Neither South Carolina — nor Muschamp — can seem to catch a break on the injury front. Hopefully, Lloyd’s rehab goes smoothly and paves the way for an even stronger 2021.