[Tuck4Bama]

South Carolina defensive end Nathan Pepper was in no mood to celebrate Saturday — before or after he tore the ACL in his left knee against S.C. State.

Contrary to what Gamecocks coach Steve Spurrier suggested, Pepper said he was not injured while preparing to celebrate his 19-yard interception return for a touchdown. The 6-foot-1, 291-pound Pepper said he planted his left foot to decelerate and felt the knee buckle.

“I didn’t think at one point in my mind to celebrate,” Pepper said Wednesday. “I was just thinking about finishing through the (goal) line, making sure I was in there and then getting off the field.”

Pepper’s haste to get in the end zone was understandable. On an interception return at Clemson last season, he was caught from behind and fumbled when he slowed down near the goal line.

Pepper, a junior from Greenville, will undergo reconstructive surgery in the next couple of weeks once the swelling goes down. He plans to redshirt this season and will have two years of eligibility remaining.

Pepper: Planting, not partying, tore knee