South Carolina football linebacker Mohamed Kaba out for 2023 season with left knee injury

COLUMBIA — Linebacker Mohamed Kaba will miss the remainder of the 2023 season with a left knee injury, South Carolina football announced Tuesday.

Kaba, a 6-foot-2, 253-pound junior, also missed most of the 2022 season after tearing his right ACL in Week 2 against Arkansas. This is his third major knee injury since 2019 after he also tore his right ACL as a senior in high school.

Kaba limped off the field midway through the first quarter of the Gamecocks' 31-17 loss to North Carolina on Saturday. He was visibly upset on the bench, sitting with his head in his hands as a trainer consoled him before entering the medical tent. He returned to the sideline on crutches during the second half.

Kaba started both games last season before his injury, logging eight tackles and a pass breakup in those two weeks. He has his best season in 2021, recording 32 tackles including two for loss.

Kaba did not start against North Carolina, so junior Debo Williams and sophomore Stone Blanton will likely remain the first string. Freshman Grayson Howard and senior Bam Martin-Scott — both of whom had injury concerns during preseason — are listed as the backups on South Carolina's Week 2 depth chart.

The Gamecocks face Furman for their home opener on Saturday (7:30 p.m., ESPN+).