Ryan Hilinski's career as the quarterback of the South Carolina football team will begin this week in preparation of Charleston Southern. TheBigSpur.com has learned through multiple sources that senior quarterback Jake Bentley is out indefinitely due to a foot injury and Hilinski, a true freshman, has been informed he will start his first career game on Saturday, a noon kickoff at Williams-Brice Stadium on the SEC Network.

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TheBigSpur has not learned the exact diagnosis of Bentley's foot injury, but WACH FOX reporter Mike Uva has reported, "One source told me Bentley is expected to be out at least 6 weeks with a broken foot but it could be longer."

There has been no public word on the matter from the Gamecocks football program. Head coach Will Muschamp will hold his weekly press conference on Tuesday afternoon at 12:30 p.m.

Bentley started the 33rd game of his Gamecocks career in Saturday's season opener, a 24-20 loss to North Carolina. He was 16-of-30 passing or 142 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. He was the only quarterback under center for the game.

Hilinski won the backup quarterback job over redshirt freshman Dakereon Joyner. He was named the No. 2 quarterback in the third week of August, following the end to training camp practices. The 6-3, 230-pound pro-style quarterback out of Orange Lutheran (Orange, Calif.) was ranked as the nation's No. 2 quarterback for the Class of 2019. The Elite 11 Finalist, The Opening Finalist and All-American Bowl participant was the top-rated offensive signee in South Carolina's latest signing class. He was an early enrollee in January, participated in spring camp and ultimately won the backup spot in preseason camp.

According to 247Sports Composite archival rankings, Hilinski was the 15th highest rated prospect to sign with South Carolina since 2000 and only the Class of 2007's Stephen Garcia was a higher rated quarterback (0.9759 to 0.9695).

More on Hilinski via his GamecocksOnline.com bio page:

Highly-decorated quarterback who prepped at Orange (Calif.) Lutheran... graduated following the fall semester of 2018... led the Lancers into the postseason playoffs by throwing for 2,771 yards and 29 scores in 2018... completed 222-of-346 passes, a 64.2 completion percentage... coached by Jason Presley... invited to the Pro Football Hall of Fame World Bowl All-Star game in Mexico City and in the Army All-American Bowl in San Antonio following his senior season... selected to receive the prestigious 2018 Sam B. Nicola Award as the 2018 National High School Player of the Year, presented annually by the Touchdown Club of Columbus... one of four finalists for the All-American Bowl Offensive Player of the Year Award... was an Elite 11 quarterback competition and Nike’s “The Opening” finalist... named to the All-Trinity League first team... concluded his high school career with 8,102 passing yards and 85 total touchdowns

This is a developing story. Stay tuned to TheBigSpur.com for further details.