Saunders to rejoin team

COLUMBIA -- Suspended South Carolina tight end Weslye Saunders has been reinstated to the team. The rising senior, in and out of the coaches' doghouse the past couple of seasons, will rejoin winter workouts Monday.

Saunders missed the team's initial meeting of 2010 and fell behind in workouts as he considered entering his name in the NFL draft.

Coach Steve Spurrier then suspended Saunders early this past week, until he could get his attitude straightened out and catch up on what he'd missed.

"We had some issues with him about a week ago," Spurrier said. "He had some responsibilities to fulfill this past week and he achieved them all."

The leash is still bound to be short with Saunders.

A lot was expected of the Durham, N.C., native going into the 2009 season, after Jared Cook left early for the NFL.

Saunders wound up with 32 catches for 353 yards and three touchdowns, far from the anticipated production level.

That's the case especially when you consider that Stephen Garcia threw for nearly 3,000 yards.

Almost a third of Saunders' production came in the Sept. 12 Georgia game (eight catches, 96 yards). But, from there, he caught only five passes over the next six weeks.

Reach Travis Haney at thaney@postandcourier.com and check out the South Carolina blog at www.postandcourier.com/blogs/gamecocks.