Beamer expects South Carolina center Carter Miller to be available against Tennessee

South Carolina head coach Shane Beamer offered an encouraging update on his offensive line Thursday night, two days before Tennessee visits Williams-Brice Stadium. Speaking on his weekly Carolina Calls radio show, Beamer said center Carter Miller should be available Saturday, an improvement on the questionable tag Miller carried on the conference's initial availability report released Wednesday.

The outlook is less certain for defensive back Q Scott, the player Beamer described as the one the staff is most concerned about. Scott was hospitalized with a head injury after the Gamecocks' loss to Kentucky, and there were initial fears the absence could be a long one. Beamer said that timeline has improved and that Scott should return sooner rather than later, even if Saturday remains in doubt.

Several other Gamecocks are cleared to return. Gabriel Brownlow-Dindy is set to play after missing the last two games, Julian Walker is back after sitting out against Florida, and Judge Collier will be available despite being hurt in that Florida game. Having that group restored matters for a team trying to build on the momentum it carried into its open week.

South Carolina used that break after pulling off an upset at Florida in Gainesville, a result that eased, at least for the moment, the pressure that had been building around Beamer. Saturday brings a quick test of whether that relief lasts. A loss to Tennessee would leave the Gamecocks at 1-4 in the SEC and would likely restart questions about whether Beamer finishes the season, while a win would give the Florida result real follow-through at home.