South Carolina offensive lineman Ronald Patrick is expected to miss all of spring practice as he recovers from surgery to remove an abscess behind his right eye -- which was also at the base of his brain.
Patrick is slated to be in the hospital through the mid-week, and coach Steve Spurrier expects a full recovery.
“From what we think, the surgeons did an excellent job,” Spurrier said. “His headaches are not there. He’s got some recovery time ahead of him, but we’re hoping and praying it was a very successful operation and he will not need any more surgeries.”
Patrick, a soon-to-be sophomore, saw some time as a backup center last season and has been moved to guard for 2011. Spurrier said that he expected to be back within one to two months.