Early headlines for Virginia-South Carolina Belk Bowl? Star sits out, injuries prevail

Will Muschamp joked Thursday that at this point, he’s developing something of a love-hate relationship with Charlotte.

The love, the South Carolina football coach explained, is for a handful of reasons. Between playing at Bank of America Stadium, normally home to the Carolina Panthers, and traveling to a local recruiting hotbed, not to mention the close proximity to Columbia, it has about everything the Gamecocks could ask for in a college football venue.

And the hate?

“I’ve been on the road the last two weeks recruiting, and every time I call my wife,” Muschamp laughed, “she says she’s driving to Charlotte to shop, and everything here is really expensive.”

All kidding aside, Thursday’s news conference with Muschamp and Virginia coach Bronco Mendenhall, whose teams will meet in Charlotte’s Belk Bowl on Dec. 29, was little more than a prelude for the game. That said, here are five things that came up Thursday and merit watching as the bowl approaches in the coming weeks:

1. Deebo Samuel sitting out: Arguably the top pro prospect in this game, South Carolina’s speedy receiver has announced he will sit out the team’s bowl game to prepare for the upcoming NFL draft. Samuel, a 6-foot, 210-pound senior, played a full 12-game schedule for the first time in his college career this season, catching 62 passes for 882 yards and 11 touchdowns. Samuel suffered a broken leg his junior year that limited him to three games.

“Appreciate everything Deebo did for the University of South Carolina,” Muschamp said.

2. Homecoming for young Gamecocks: Despite both schools’ close proximity to Charlotte, neither program sports an overwhelming number of local players.

South Carolina does have a handful of locals, though, who will make their return to the area. Two young offensive linemen in Jovaughn Gwyn (Harding University) and Eric Douglas (Mallard Creek) will be back, as well as defensive lineman Rick Sandidge (Concord).

3. Undefeated records at stake: Both schools finished this season 7-5, but an interesting note to keep in mind for the Belk Bowl: Both teams are undefeated all-time playing at Bank of America Stadium.

Virginia played in the inaugural Belk Bowl in 2002, beating West Virginia 48-22, and then defeated Pittsburgh 23-16 the next year. South Carolina is 3-0 all-time in the Panthers’ home stadium, having twice played in the Belk College Kickoff game there, with wins over North Carolina in 2015 and N.C. State in 2017. The Gamecocks beat East Carolina in Charlotte in 2011.

South Carolina will also begin its 2019 season at Bank of America Stadium against North Carolina.

4. More injury woes for South Carolina: For all the injuries South Carolina has endured this football season, add another two to the list ahead of the Belk Bowl.

Junior defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw and senior cornerback Keisean Nixon will both be out for the game, Muschamp confirmed Thursday.

Kinlaw recently had surgery to repair a torn hip, Muschamp said, and while the procedure could have waited until after the bowl game, he said the team wanted to get a head start on Kinlaw’s rehabilitation before his senior season. He was previously the team’s only defensive line starter not to miss a game due to injury.

Nixon will be out with a fracture in his neck.

5. The Dudley Award? Yes, the Dudley Award: While not as noteworthy as some of college football’s other elite awards, it’s worth mentioning this year’s Dudley Award winner, presented annually to the top Division-I player in Virginia. Past award winners include former New York Giants running back Tiki Barber, Cleveland Browns quarterback Tyrod Taylor, and current Panthers backup quarterback Taylor Heinicke.

This year’s award went to Virginia quarterback Bryce Perkins, who finished the season with 2,472 passing yards for 22 touchdowns and nine interceptions. Perkins also was the team’s second-leading rusher with 842 yards on the ground and another nine touchdowns.

This story was originally published December 13, 2018 at 7:47 PM with the headline "Early headlines for Virginia-South Carolina Belk Bowl? Star sits out, injuries prevail."