<font color="#1b4588">link</font></p> COLUMBIA, S.C. -- South Carolina's standout linebacker Jasper Brinkley will miss the rest of the season with a knee injury, coach Steve Spurrier said in a news release Monday. Brinkley, the team's leading tackler from a year ago and on the preseason watch lists for the Lombardi and Butkus awards, suffered a right knee sprain during the Gamecocks' 28-16 loss at No. 2 LSU on Saturday. Athletics spokesman Steve Fink said Brinkley will need surgery, but he would not say whether the school planned to apply for a medical redshirt that could give the senior another year of eligibility at No. 16 South Carolina (3-1). Brinkley had 21 tackles so far this year and led the team with two interceptions, including one in the final moments against Georgia that secured the Gamecocks' 16-12 victory. Brinkley had been a key part of South Carolina's success this season. With the offense struggling at times (Spurrier has played three quarterbacks so far this season), the coach has said he will have to rely on the running game and defense to make an impact on the SEC this year. Brinkley had 107 tackles a year ago, more than twice the total of the team's second-ranked tackler. The 6-foot-2, 262-pounder from Thomson, Ga., was picked for The Associated Press' all-Southeastern Conference team a season ago. He is the second starter South Carolina's defense has lost for the year in the past two games. Defensive lineman Nathan Pepper injured his left knee on a 19-yard interception return for a touchdown in a 38-3 win over South Carolina State on Sept. 15.</p>
LSU had several of their players getting up slow after some big hits. That does suck though I was hearing nothing but good things about him during the week before the game.</p>
