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All's well with Clowney for opener

South Carolina All-American defensive end Jadeveon Clowney will be healthy enough to play in the season opener against North Carolina on Aug. 29, Gamecocks coach Steve Spurrier said Wednesday.

Clowney sat out a Saturday scrimmage and Monday's practice with a bruised shoulder, leading Spurrier to previously say Clowney might not be ready for the first game.

Spurrier also was upset that Clowney and injured receivers Bruce Ellington and Damiere Byrd stayed in the locker room on Monday rather than watch practice on the field. Now Spurrier is calling it a communications issue.

"Jadeveon's doing fine, Bruce is doing fine, Damiere is doing fine," Spurrier said. "They had a communication problem, they didn't know they were supposed to be out here watching practice, so I'm the dummy on that. Now they know they're going to be out here watching practice. We had a communication problem and we're ready to go."

Clowney returned to practice on Tuesday and he "is back in good graces. He's back in the fold," Spurrier said. "He's going to play against North Carolina."