For the foreseeable future, it’s officially Ryan Hilinski‘s offense.
Reports surfaced Monday that starting quarterback Jake Bentley suffered some type of foot injury in South Carolina’s season-opening loss to North Carolina that could sideline him for upwards of six weeks. Tuesday, head coach Will Muschamp confirmed that Bentley has been diagnosed with a Lisfranc injury in his mid-foot.
At the moment, Bentley will be sidelined for 4-8 weeks. If surgery is required, it’d knock the senior out for the remainder of the season.
To add insult to literal injury, Muschamp believes the injury occurred on the game’s final play, a sack on a play that began on UNC’s 47-yard line.
Muschamp said Bentley's injury is mid-foot sprain also known as a lisfranc injury, out 4-8 weeks without surgery, if he needs surgery he's out for the season. #Gamecocks
— SportsTalk Media Network (@sportstalksc) September 3, 2019
Bentley, who started 33 of the last 34 games under center for the Gamecocks, will be replaced in the starting lineup by the true freshman Hilinski. A four-star member of USC’s 2019 recruiting class, Hilinski has yet to throw a pass at the collegiate level.
Hilinski, whose brother, Tyler Hilinski, was Washington State’s starting quarterback before taking his own life in January of 2017, will make his first career start this coming Saturday against FCS Charleston Southern. The following weekend, USC will play host to second-ranked Alabama.
