South Carolina wide receiver Shaq Roland plans to turn pro and is also dropping out of school and off the team as the Gamecocks prepare to play Miami in the Independence Bowl, according to South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier.
"Shaq Roland is not with the team anymore. I think he's elected to drop out of school and go pro. That was his choice, and we wish him the best," Spurrier said upon the team's arrival for the practice week in Shreveport, La.
Roland caught 26 passes for 256 yards for the Gamecocks this season, but was criticized for his effort at times and was left home from the team's trip to Kentucky for missing team meetings. According to gogamecocks.com, he would give up on routes among other on-field issues, and assistant coach Steve Spurrier Jr. was unaware as of Friday whether Roland was set to receive feedback from the NFL Draft Advisory Board.
It's unclear whether Roland was dismissed from the program or quit, but either way, it's not the way a receiver with his track record wants to enter the season of rising and falling draft stock. He was also suspended for three games last year for an undisclosed violation of university policy.
Follow Chase Goodbread on Twitter *@ChaseGoodbread*.