[Tuck4Bama]

South Carolina senior Casper Brinkley will start at defensive end Saturday at LSU following the season-ending knee injury to Nathan Pepper, Gamecocks coach Steve Spurrier announced today.

Brinkley, who started 13 games at end in 2006 before moving to outside linebacker this season, is tied with end Eric Norwood as the Gamecocks' second-leading tackler with 17 stops. Brinkley played both end and linebacker during the Gamecocks' first three games.

Cliff Matthews, a freshman from Cheraw, will shift from end to weakside linebacker to take Brinkley's former spot. Matthews has seven tackles and one quarterback pressure in the first three games.

Also, Spurrier said he hopes quarterback Chris Smelley, who missed the past two games with a bruised shoulder, is healthy enough by midweek to assume the No. 2 spot behind Blake Mitchell.

GoGamecocks.com | Brinkley returns to DE