Columbia, SC – South Carolina star defensive end Jadeveon Clowney returned to practice Tuesday after missing Monday's session with a bruised shoulder.
Gamecocks coach Steve Spurrier had indicated Monday night that Clowney could miss the team's season opener on Aug. 29 against North Carolina because of the issue, but gave no such impressions on Tuesday.
"Jadeveon is doing fine," Spurrier noted Tuesday.
Spurrier had said Monday that if Clowney's shoulder didn't "come around real soon we may play without him the first game."
Clowney is already considered the top NFL Draft prospect heading into his junior year. He is the reigning Hendricks Award winner as the nation's top defensive end and last year finished sixth in the Heisman Trophy balloting.
In just two seasons for the Gamecocks, Clowney ranks fifth in school history with 21 sacks -- eight shy of the record. He set a Gamecocks single-season mark for sacks last year with 13 and tackles for loss with 23 1/2.
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