South Carolina LB Skai Moore will have disc repair surgery, to miss 2016 season

Skai Moore, the starting S/LB for South Carolina's defense, will undergo a procedure to repair an injured disc in his neck and will miss the entire 2016 season, Will Muschamp announced today at the SEC spring meetings in Destin, Florida.

This is a major blow for the Gamecock defense as Moore was being called upon to play multiple roles, supposedly seeing time at the middle linebacker, weakside linebacker, and perhaps some safety play. This opens the door for TJ Holloman to step up as Carolina's most experienced linebacker, and could possibly call for some scheme shifts as the team will no longer have an athlete similar to Skai Moore playing in a spur-like position.

There are reports that Moore will redshirt this season and use his final year of eligibility in 2017, helping shield the Gamecocks from the blow of losing two starting linebackers after this season. In all three of his seasons, Moore has been the team's leading tackler, recording 111 last season en route to second-team All-SEC honors.

In Muschamp's debut season, the expectations for the defense were already low. Now, with their most talented player claimed by injury, things are looking even more grim for this Gamecock defense.