With today’s announcement that standout linebacker Skai Moore will miss the 2016 season because of a neck injury, the first reaction is to wish the young man a speedy recovery.

After that, some Gamecock fans will be wondering how big of an impact his injury will have on the defense this season.

MORE ON MOORE

When the senior linebacker missed the spring with what was then called a “neck strain,” no one made much fuss about it. It was not believed to be a serious injury.

Apparently, that strain was a herniated disc and it didn’t heal properly:

“He’ll be fine. This is not a career-threatening situation,” Muschamp told The State newspaper. “This is a very common procedure for herniated disc. It’s unfortunate that it didn’t heal on its own.

“We are disappointed for Skai, but we need to support him right now. He will graduate in the spring. It’s great he gets to come back and graduate and play his senior year (in 2017).”

WHAT IT MEANS FOR THE SCHEME?

Since he didn’t participate in spring drills, it’s hard to know for sure what exact role Moore would have played in coordinator Travaris Robinson’s defense. But, after leading the Gamecocks in tackles and interceptions last fall, it would have been a large role.

He has the speed and ball skills to play some safety and, with 258 career tackles, has proven that he has a nose for finding the football. It wouldn’t have been a surprise to see him drop into coverage more often, reading the offense from a little deeper in the defensive formation.

There will still be multiple formations, featuring 4-3 and 3-4 looks. There just won’t be the same versatility in the players running them.

WHO FILLS HIS SHOES?

While they’re certainly too large for any one player to fill, the Gamecocks are better equipped at linebacker than at any other position to deal with this sort of injury. There’s a reason, after all, that there was some talk of Moore playing at safety.

T.J. Holloman (63 tackles, 2 INT), Jonathan Walton (43 tackles, 1 sack) and Bryson Allen-Williams (23 tackles, 1 INT) have experience at the position, and each will have to help pick up the production lost with Moore’s injury.

Moore’s absence might expand the role for incoming freshman T.J. Brunson, a three-star recruit and a Columbia product.

Brunson’s high school coach, Richland Northeast’s Jay Frye, thinks Brunson can be an impact player at the collegiate level.

“He’s going to be a super player for them,” he told The State newspaper in February. “I know his character and he’s going to be ready whenever they put him in there. He’s a smart player. He makes plays all over the field.

“He has great instincts. He knows how to read offenses and how to read the defensive signals. Plus, he’s strong. He’s a physical kid that likes to hit people. He can chase or he can stick it up there when given the chance.”

South Carolina’s other linebacker in this class, Robert Tucker, was expected to begin his career as a tight end. Tight end remains a problem area, so it will be a surprise if that plan changes despite Moore’s injury.

THE VERDICT

There’s no sugarcoating it: This is a big loss for South Carolina’s defense. Moore was far and away the unit’s most talented player — and perhaps the team’s.

But there is some depth to soften the blow.

Also, 2016 was going to be a rebuilding year of sorts anyway. It’s hard (but not impossible) to go from 3-9 to the top of the SEC East. So, if the options were for Moore to play this season at less than 100 percent while risking further injury, or to come back fully healthy for his senior season in 2017 as part of what should be a better roster, then there wasn’t really much of a choice.

Moore nearly entered the NFL Draft after his junior season. After surgery and rehab, here’s hoping he gets that chance again after the 2017 campaign.