Quarterback Connor Shaw still is not 100 percent and has not been cleared to return to South Carolinas starting lineup, coach Steve Spurrier said Thursday night.
Spurrier, though, added that might change by the time the No. 8 Gamecocks play UAB on Saturday at 7 p.m.
He hasnt quite been 100 percent yet, but theres a chance he might get there, Spurrier said on his weekly radio call-in show Carolina Calls. Well see how he feels Saturday morning, to tell you the truth.
Shaw, who suffered a badly bruised right shoulder blade against Vanderbilt on Aug. 30, threw during South Carolinas afternoon practice, Spurrier said.
I expect him to throw it around a little bit more (Friday) and then well have to see how he feels Saturday, Spurrier said. Its just a little painful right now.
SHAKING THINGS UP
The Gamecocks coaches need to work more with their offensive linemen and perhaps change their blocking schemes, Spurrier said, but offensive line coach Shawn Elliott is happy with his players effort, he said.
We have to perform better than we have, but these guys are out here working, Elliott said. Its not like they are happy with their performance. We are by no means happy, but theyre doing a good job and have a good focus and have a great attitude. If they want to be a great o-line, they can do it.
South Carolina rotated four offensive tackles throughout last weeks game against East Carolina and might do that again against UAB, Elliott said. Sophomores Mike Matulis and Cody Gibson are expected to start and be backed up by Brandon Shell and Corey Robinson.
I said yall go out there and practice hard and practice well, and I feel like youve got that focus, then youre going to play on Saturday, Elliott said.
Robinson had not played a meaningful snap until last weeks game.
I really had no intentions of Corey playing a lot of snaps until Monday he was like, I can do this, Elliott said. And on Tuesday he followed it up with a great practice. Wednesday, he came out here and did the exact same thing. Then, Im like, Hey, thats great. You prove to me you can do it through the course of the week, Ill prove to you Ill play you on Saturday. I think they understand that now.
INJURY UPDATE
Defensive end Jadeveon Clowney (ribs) is expected to be full strength Saturday, defensive coordinator Lorenzo Ward said.
He said he was feeling better today than he did yesterday, Ward said after Thursdays practice. He practiced today with no problems, so I guess he will be 100 percent.
Senior cornerback Akeem Auguste, who has missed the first two games due to a leg injury could be back as soon as the Sept. 22 Missouri game, Ward said. Jimmy Legree has played well in Augustes absence that Ward said Auguste will have to earn the position when he comes back.
EXTRA POINTS
... More than 2,000 tickets remain for Saturdays game. They are $35 each and can be purchased at www.gamecocksonline.com.
... A victory Saturday would give South Carolina seven straight wins, tying for the second-longest streak in school history. The longest streak is nine in a row, set in 1984.
... Suspended defensive tackle J.T. Surratt and spur Sharrod Golightly will return for the Missouri game, Ward confirmed.
... Freshman wide receiver Shamier Jeffery is a little behind but is among the teams top nine wideouts, Spurrier said on 107.5 on Thursday night.


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