GAME BREAKDOWN
KEY MATCHUP: LT Dennis Daly could be in for a very busy night against Kentucky. He will be facing LB Josh Allen, who dominated the game — especially late — as the Wildcats closed out a 28-7 victory over Mississippi State last week. Allen has three sacks this season. Daly (6-6, 312) won the starting job last year after transferring from Georgia Military College and has started the first three games for the Gamecocks this season. South Carolina’s offensive line has done a good job protecting QB Jake Bentley, allowing only three sacks, but Kentucky with Allen and teammate Jordan Jones will be a challenge.
DRAFT SLANT
–WR Deebo Samuel had seven receptions in the win over Vanderbilt and returned a kickoff 34 yards, giving him 79 yards on three runbacks for the year. He has had at least six receptions in every game this season. Though he is averaging only 7.2 yards per reception, he remains a big-play threat in South Carolina’s passing game. He also has completed his only pass attempt for a 13-yard gain. He has completed both of his career pass attempts with the other a 33-yard touchdown pass to WR Bryan Edwards in 2016.
ROSTER REPORT:
–LB D.J. Wonnum is not expected to play after missing the last two games with an ankle injury. The junior was injured in the opener and is expected to miss about a month.
–QB Jake Bentley has completed 68.27 percent of his passes, which ranks third in the SEC behind Alabama’s Tua Tagovailoa (72.5) and Georgia’s Jake Fromm (72.46).
–WR Or’Tre Smith, a much-heralded recruit who had 30 receptions for 326 yards as a true freshman last year, will have knee surgery and miss the rest of the season, coach Will Muschamp said. Smith has a subluxing (or partial dislocation) kneecap. Smith had three receptions in the first two games but did not play at Vanderbilt.
–DT Javon Kinlaw, who injured a toe at Vandy, is good to go against Kentucky.
–TE C.J. Crosby is expected to be available for the Kentucky game despite a broken finger.
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