Top South Carolina tight end and receiver not spotted at Gamecocks’ latest practice

UPDATED AUGUST 12, 2023 9:27 AM
South Carolina football held its seventh preseason practice Friday afternoon. Members of the media were allowed to watch the first five periods. Here are some news and notes from the viewing window:
▪ Tight end transfer Trey Knox, a presumptive starter at tight end, was not spotted at practice. A team spokesman didn’t have any official updates as to Knox’s whereabouts.
▪ Antwane Wells, who finished second in receiving yards in the SEC last year, was also absent from practice. He has not been in the rotation during the three viewing periods media members observed this fall. He is not believed to be injured.
▪ The rain clouds in Columbia couldn’t put a damper on transfer running back Mario Anderson’s Friday afternoon. During the stretching portion of the Gamecocks practice, Anderson jauntily made his way to the front of the team and danced along to music blasting over the speakers. He punctuated his energetic choreography with a split, met by raucous applause from his fellow athletes and coaches.
▪ Veteran player Luke Doty donned a green quarterback jersey and practiced with the other signal callers Friday. TheBigSpur reported earlier this week that the redshirt junior was taking some reps at wide receiver. Doty, the presumed backup to Spencer Rattler, began his freshman year training as a wide receiver amid the quarterback battle between Collin Hill and Ryan Hilinski under former Gamecocks coach Will Muschamp.
▪ Redshirt senior edge rusher Terrell Dawkins and freshman linebacker Pup Howard were on the sideline today without pads or helmets on.
▪ Running back Juju McDowell sported a brace on his right knee.
▪ Wide receiver Xavier Legette, McDowell, running back Dakereon Joyner and freshman wide receiver Elijah Caldwell took turns returning kicks.
▪ Linebacker Stone Blanton, defensive back BJ Gibson, running back Kamron Sandlin and defensive back Peyton Williams were all back in full today after working with strength and conditioning assistant Chip Morton off to the side Monday.
▪ Defensive end Tyreek Johnson was in a blue non-contact jersey, as he was at both previous open practices. CJ Adams, who wore a blue non-contact jersey Monday, did not on Friday.