Sept. 24, 2014

The South Carolina Gamecocks spent Wednesday afternoon at the Bluff Road “Proving Grounds” preparing for Saturday’s SEC Eastern Division tilt with the Missouri Tigers.

Offensive guard Cody Waldrop (knee) did not practice again on Wednesday and has been ruled out for Saturday’s contest. Running back Brandon Wilds (shoulder) was full-go on Wednesday and is expected to play on Saturday.

Will Sport will make the start at right guard with Brock Stadnik and D.J. Park available as backups, according to offensive line coach Shawn Elliott.

Coach Elliott felt like his unit played ok at Vanderbilt. “We probably got into a rhythm pretty good after the first six or seven plays,” said Elliott. “They played about average. We’ve got work to do, as every team does. We’ll continue to get better.”

Playing behind veterans Mike Davis and Brandon Wilds, redshirt freshman running back David Williams has been waiting for an opportunity to get on the field. He finally got that chance and was able to get his first collegiate touchdown at Vanderbilt. “It felt good,” said Wilds. “It’s a feeling I want to keep experiencing. I was determined to get in the end zone. I had the mindset that I can’t be denied.”

With Wilds banged up a little, Williams is hopeful to get more work this week. “We’ve been having the same rotation (in practice). Yesterday, Brandon was a little limited. He had a yellow jersey on, but he was back out there and getting in the mix (today), so it’s been the same rotation.”

Williams understands that his carries may be limited. “You just have to be patient and you’ve just got to wait for your turn, but when you get your opportunity you just have to take advantage of it, that’s how I look at it.”

The No. 13/15 Gamecocks (3-1, 2-1 SEC) will host Missouri (3-1, 0-0 SEC) in a battle for the Mayor’s Cup on Saturday, September 27. Game time is set for 7 p.m. at a sold out Williams-Brice Stadium. ESPN will broadcast the game nationally with Brad Nessler and Todd Blackledge in the booth and Holly Rowe on the sidelines. ESPN’s GameDay show will be in Columbia as well, televising from 9-noon from the famous Horseshoe in the middle of campus.

The Gamecocks will return to the practice fields on Thursday.