Freshman tailback out after injuring knee
Freshman running back Shon Carson is “probably going to miss” the remainder of the 2011 season after injuring his right knee against Georgia, coach Steve Spurrier said Tuesday.
“We’ll try to (medical) redshirt him,” Spurrier said. “That’ll give him four more years to play here.”
With Carson out, Kenny Miles will regain the second-team tailback spot. Miles led the team in rushing in 2009.
Starter Marcus Lattimore said he has spoken to Carson and encouraged him to stay tough in the face of the injury, which Lattimore said is related to Carson’s ACL.
“I just tell him, ‘Let God handle it,’” Lattimore said. “I know he’s struggling right now. I talk to him every day. We just got out of class a minute ago; (he had his) head down, and I told him (to) keep his head up. He’ll be fine.”
Spurrier said the injury was “unfortunate,” but that he expects Carson to make a full recovery.
“He’s an outstanding runner with the ball and really going to be, I think, a really great tailback for us here at South Carolina,” Spurrier said. “That will separate him a year from Marcus and maybe give him a little bit more opportunities down the road.”