South Carolina TE Jerell Adams, LB Jonathan Walton practice, should be available for Thursday's game against North Carolina

The South Carolina Gamecocks dodged a bullet today as one of their veteran starters looks to indeed be ready to go for Thursday's game against the North Carolina Tar Heels.

A day after Steve Spurrier proclaimed him as "doubtful", tight end Jerell Adams practiced for the first time in several days and should be able to play as he recovers from a hamstring strain. Had Adams not been able to go, walk-on freshman Hayden Hurst would have presumably made the start in his place.

Also practicing today: Jonathan Walton. The starting WILL linebacker has been bothered by a back injury and had been held out, but did get on the field and looks to be good to go as well.

For an offense already boasting several question marks (like how Connor Mitch will perform in his first career start and how the wide receivers beside Pharoh Cooper will look), Adams' availability is key as he looks to be a safety valve for Mitch and the passing game. On the defensive side, Walton should be a big part in Jon Hoke's new 4-3 system, and his presence will certainly be key as he should be able to capitalize on a 2014 campaign in which he had 61 tackles (third on the team).

We'll see how things develop over the next few days, but for now, two of the Gamecocks' upperclassmen should be "full-go" as the team prepares to head north of the border to the Queen City to open their season against the Tar Heels.