Updated

South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier says injured All-American Jadeveon Clowney is working hard so he can play against Arkansas on Saturday.

Spurrier said Tuesday he will know later in the week if Clowney has recovered enough from a strained muscle to Saturday.

Spurrier says if Clowney doesn't play another down for the 14th-ranked Gamecocks, the junior has made a tremendous impact on the program.

Since the 6-foot-6, 274-pound defensive end said shortly before kickoff last Saturday against Kentucky that he was in too much pain to play, there have been questions about whether the potential No. 1 pick in next year's NFL draft was shutting it down for the season.

Spurrier says he, Clowney and the training staff all handled things poorly after the Gamecocks (4-1, 2-1) beat Kentucky 35-28.