FILE - In this Saturday, Oct. 5, 2013, file photo, South Carolina defensive end Jadeveon Clowney smiles as he sits on the bench during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Kentucky in Columbia, S.C. South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier has said Clowney's availability for Arkansas is up in the air after the All-American defensive end decided not to play in last week's game because of what has been diagnosed as a strained muscle. (AP Photo/Rainier Ehrhardt, File) (The Associated Press)
COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina All-American Jadeveon Clowney will start Saturday when the 14th-ranked Gamecocks travel to Arkansas.
Gamecocks defensive coordinator Lorenzo Ward said Thursday that Clowney will start after successfully finishing a second straight day of practice after missing workouts earlier in the week with a strained muscle near his ribcage.
Clowney pulled himself out of last Saturday night's game against Kentucky a short time before kickoff, which upset South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier. That led to questions about whether the 6-foot-6, 274-pound lineman was fully committed to the Gamecocks or if he was protecting himself for next spring's NFL draft where he's considered a top prospect.
Ward talked with trainer Clint Haggard who says Clowney's received treatment on his injury several times. Ward says Clowney's doing all he can to play.
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