South Carolina receiver leaves team days before Independence Bowl

Published Dec. 24, 2014 6:19 a.m. ET

foxsports

South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier says wide receiver Shaq Roland has left the team just days before the Independence Bowl.

Shortly after arriving in Shreveport, Louisiana, on Tuesday, Spurrier said the junior didn't make the bowl trip and appears to be planning to drop out of school and turn pro.

Roland was named the best high school player in South Carolina in 2011, but never quite lived up to the hype with the Gamecocks.

He caught 26 passes for 356 yards and four touchdowns in 2014, showing little improvement from his sophomore season. Roland caught 56 passes for 891 yards and 10 TDs in his three years at South Carolina.

The Gamecocks face Miami in Saturday's Independence Bowl.