Kroeger Named SEC’s Co-Special Teams Player of the Week

University of South Carolina junior punter Kai Kroeger was named the Southeastern Conference’s co-Special Teams Player of the Week for his performance in the Gamecocks’ 38-27 win over Vanderbilt last Saturday night, the conference office announced today. Kroeger shared the award with Mississippi State kick returner Lideatrick Griffin.

Kroeger, a 6-4, 207-pounder from Lake Forest, Ill., booted five punts against the Commodores for a 53.6-yard average, including kicks of 69 and 66 yards, with two of his punts downed inside the 20. Vanderbilt returned just one of the five punts for negative-one yard. The Gamecocks had a net punting average of 45.8-yards per punt in the win. Kroeger, who is also the holder on placements, completed a 16-yard pass on a fake field goal for a first down, and is now 4-for-4 in his career passing.

Kroeger is a four-time Ray Guy’s “Ray’s 8” honoree this season and was selected the National Punter of the Week in week one following his efforts in the win over Georgia State.

This is the third time Kroeger has been selected as the SEC’s Special Teams Player of the Week, previously earning the award following the Auburn win in 2020 and after the Vanderbilt win in 2021.

Kroeger and the Gamecocks (6-3, 3-3 SEC) will travel to Florida (5-4, 2-4 SEC) this week for a 4 pm SEC Eastern Division showdown in The Swamp. The game will be televised on SEC Network.