[Tuck4Bama]

For the second consecutive year, South Carolina’s Nathan Pepper went from living out a defensive lineman’s dream to waking up to a nightmare.

The defensive end from Greenville will undergo season-ending surgery after tearing a ligament in his left knee during Saturday’s win against S.C. State, Gamecocks coach Steve Spurrier said Monday. Pepper sustained the freak injury after reaching the end zone following his 19-yard interception return for a touchdown in the first quarter.

“Hopefully, it will teach all of our guys a lesson. He just made some kind of little, funny move, I guess in a celebration-type way,” Spurrier said. “It wasn’t much. But it was enough to tear his knee ligament.”

Spurrier tried to teach Pepper a lesson last year when Pepper slowed up near the end zone during an interception runback at Clemson. After Pepper was caught from behind and fumbled into the end zone, Spurrier suspended for the first quarter of the Liberty Bowl.

USC will apply for a medical redshirt for Pepper, who would have two years of eligibility remaining.


GoGamecocks.com | Football | Notes: Touchdown ends Pepper’s year