South Carolina Injury Update: Shane Beamer Explains DJ Black Absence and Ethan Sanchez Kicking Decision

South Carolina left its 45-9 victory over Towson with a few minor injury concerns, but head coach Shane Beamer said the Gamecocks should be in good shape heading into their SEC opener against Mississippi State.

The biggest absence before kickoff was wide receiver DJ Black, who had already made an impact in South Carolina’s season-opening win over Kent State. Black caught three passes for 62 yards in that game, but the Gamecocks opted not to risk him against Towson after an issue surfaced during the week.

Beamer said the decision was precautionary rather than an indication of a major injury.

DJ Black held out as a precaution

Black experienced a flare-up involving his leg during South Carolina’s Wednesday walkthrough, prompting the coaching staff to take a conservative approach.

Rather than push the receiver into a game South Carolina controlled from the opening quarter, Beamer decided Black was better served watching from the sideline.

That caution appears to have paid off. Beamer characterized the injury as something minor and indicated Black should be available moving forward.

For South Carolina, that’s important timing. The Gamecocks are about to move into SEC play, where depth at wide receiver and the ability to keep key contributors healthy become even more valuable.

Two more offensive players leave early

Black wasn’t the only Gamecock dealing with an issue.

Running back Mo Brown did not return for the second half after suffering a bruise to his leg. Beamer did not sound concerned about the injury becoming a long-term problem.

Carter Miller also remained on the sideline after halftime after a muscle tightened up and failed to loosen sufficiently during the break.

Neither situation appeared serious.

South Carolina had enough control over the game to avoid unnecessarily exposing players to further injury. The Gamecocks ultimately cruised to a 36-point victory, giving the coaching staff some flexibility with player usage.

Beamer’s overall assessment was encouraging: the team had no significant injuries coming out of the contest.

South Carolina’s injury picture remains relatively clean heading into SEC play, with Beamer describing the current issues as minor.

Why didn’t Ethan Sanchez play?

The other major question surrounding South Carolina wasn’t an injury at all.

Transfer kicker Ethan Sanchez, who joined the Gamecocks on Sept. 3, was expected to become available after completing the NCAA’s five-day acclimation requirement. Yet when South Carolina’s pregame dress list was released, Sanchez wasn’t among the players suited up.

Beamer later explained that the decision was his.

The coach emphasized that Sanchez has already been making the team better during practices since arriving in Columbia, but he ultimately chose not to put the transfer kicker into the Towson game.

That decision leaves South Carolina with an interesting situation at placekicker heading into the SEC opener.

Max Kelley remains the starter

With Sanchez unavailable, Max Kelley handled the primary kicking duties for the second consecutive week.

Kelley had a mixed night.

He missed a 45-yard field-goal attempt but responded by connecting from 33 yards. Malik Orsan also received an opportunity in the second half, handling extra-point duties.

The competition could become one of the more intriguing position battles to monitor as South Carolina enters conference play.

Sanchey’s arrival gives the Gamecocks another option, but Beamer’s comments suggest the staff isn’t rushing the transition.

The important point is that Sanchez’s absence against Towson was a coaching decision—not an indication that the transfer kicker was injured or unavailable because of the NCAA acclimation rule.

South Carolina turns toward Mississippi State

The Towson victory gave South Carolina exactly what it wanted from a nonconference matchup: another win, plenty of offensive production and an opportunity to manage playing time before the schedule gets tougher.

Now the stakes rise.

South Carolina will welcome Mississippi State to Williams-Brice Stadium for its SEC opener on Saturday, Sept. 19. Kickoff is scheduled for 4:15 p.m. ET on SEC Network.

The health of Black, Brown and Miller will be worth watching throughout the week, particularly as the Gamecocks prepare for their first conference test.

For now, however, Beamer’s message is relatively reassuring. The Gamecocks emerged from the Towson game without a significant injury, while Sanchez’s absence appears tied to the coaching staff’s decision-making rather than a physical setback.

With SEC play arriving, South Carolina will need its roster as healthy as possible—and the latest South Carolina injury update DJ Black Ethan Sanchez Towson win provides some encouraging news.