COLUMBIA, S.C. -- South Carolina Gamecocks running back Rico Dowdle will have surgery on a fractured bone in his left leg and will miss an extended part of the remaining season.
Gamecocks coach Will Muschamp said Dowdle will have the operation later this week, after he left in the second quarter of the team's 15-9 victory at Tennessee last Saturday. Dowdle becomes the latest significant South Carolina player sidelined by injury.
Wide receiver Deebo Samuel was injured last month and had surgery to repair a broken bone. He is holding out hope to return before the end of the year. Linebacker Bryson Allen-Williams is out for the season after shoulder surgery.
Dowdle, a 5-foot-11, 220-pound sophomore from Asheville, North Carolina, was the Gamecocks' top rusher last season. He has gained 206 yards on 60 carries this season.