South Carolina looks to again be without projected starting cornerback Akeem Auguste, this time with an apparent groin injury, while several other key Gamecocks are nursing ailments as well:

Starting CB Akeem Auguste will be out minimum of four weeks due to right leg injury. Auguste missed 12 of 13 games last year due to foot — Josh Kendall (@JoshatTheState) August 20, 2012

The injury to Auguste was originally reported as the groin, but the point here is that USC is again down a starter in the secondary for at least two SEC games, one against pass-happy Missouri. Garnet And Black Attack projects that Jimmy Legree, who started two games at safety in 2011, will get the start now:

Corner was a thin position going into camp, and we really needed Auguste to come in and give us a high quality of play. Unfortunately, it's beginning to look more and more like that may not happen, at least early in the year. Hopefully, Legree can carry us through Vandy and Auguste can make it back for Mizzou.

Meanwhile, the running back position continues to grow thinner for the Gamecocks. Starter and Heisman hopeful Marcus Lattimore returns from an ACL tear in 2011, but his backups are growing increasingly banged up. Shon Carson had wrist surgery and is out indefinitely, while projected backup Brandon Wilds is still nursing an ankle injury. Wilds helped on the committee replacement of Lattimore last season. Senior Kenny Miles is now behind Lattimore on the depth chart.

For more on the South Carolina Gamecocks, be sure to visit SB Nation's South Carolina blog Garnet And Black Attack, as well as SEC blog Team Speed Kills.