South Carolina QB Connor Shaw to have surgery

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) -- South Carolina quarterback Connor Shaw will have surgery on his left foot Friday.

Athletic spokesman Steve Fink said Thursday Shaw would have the operation. It was not yet known if Shaw's surgery would limit his time at spring practice.

Coach Steve Spurrier has said he plans to have both Shaw, a senior next year, and Dylan Thompson ready to play for the Gamecocks. Thompson will be a junior next season.

Shaw sprained his foot in a win over Tennessee on Oct. 27 and dealt with the problem in wins over Arkansas and Wofford. However, he sat out the Gamecocks 27-17 victory over Clemson on Nov. 24 because of the injury.

After more than a month of rest, Shaw returned as starter in the Outback Bowl against Michigan. Yet, the injury surfaced again on South Carolina's final drive against the Wolverines and Spurrier replaced Shaw with Thompson.

Thompson responded with a 32-yard touchdown pass to Bruce Ellington with 11 seconds left to lift the Gamecocks to a 33-28 victory.

Shaw passed for 224 yards against the Wolverines, connecting on a 56-yard touchdown throw to Damiere Byrd and a 31-yard scoring pass to bowl MVP Ace Sanders as South Carolina finished the season 11-2. Shaw re-aggravated his foot injury on the a first-down throw during the final drive and Thompson replaced him.

"We tried to tell Connor it was his game, and it was his game, but Dylan was going to play," Spurrier said Tuesday. "It worked out beautifully as it turned out."

Thompson said after the bowl game he'd accept whatever role Spurrier asked him to play.

"After the game, we both looked at each other and said, `We can't wait until next year,'?" Thompson said of Shaw. "Whatever that entails, we will see."

Shaw threw for 1,956 yards and 17 touchdowns this season with just seven interceptions. He completed 67.5 percent of his throws.

Shaw also gives South Carolina mobility at the position with his running skills. He was second on the team with 435 yards and three touchdowns on the ground, second behind injured tailback Marcus Lattimore.

Thompson also had a memorable performance when he started in place of Shaw in South Carolina's fourth consecutive win over Clemson two months ago. Thompson threw for 310 yards and three touchdowns to spur the win against the Tigers.