DC Ward hopes to get players back for Swamp showdown - wistv.com - Columbia, South Carolina |

DC Ward hopes to get players back for Swamp showdown

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South Carolina defensive coordinator Lorenzo Ward's defensive unit was a little banged up after Saturday's game against the LSU Tigers, so he's hoping to have most of them ready to go in time for the game against the Florida Gators.

Defensive players like Jadeveon Clowney, Kelcy Quarles, JT Surratt, and Byron Jerideau, are fighting nagging injuries, but Ward says all but Quarles could be back before Saturday.

Quarles has not practiced all week, according to Ward, because of a shoulder sprain that he got during the LSU game.

"They tell me it's similar to what Connor [Shaw] had, just in a different spot, so he's probably going to miss a week," said Ward.

Injuries aside, Ward says his team his preparing for Florida to run the ball just like LSU successfully accomplished.

"What we spent time doing is preparing for the run game," said Ward. "We gave very little emphasis to the passing game. If they want to throw the football, so be it, that's what I want them to do. We definitely practiced to stop the run this week."

The Gamecocks travel to Florida for a 3:30 p.m. meeting with the Gators on CBS.

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