Gamecocks Travel to the Swamp Saturday

The South Carolina Gamecocks (0-1) face their second-straight top-25 opponent when they travel to Gainesville to face the No. 3/3 Florida Gators (1-0) on Saturday, Oct. 3. Game time is set for noon and the contest will be televised nationally on ESPN.
 
OVER THE AIRWAVES: Mark Jones will serve as the play-by-play voice for ESPN with Dusty Dvoracek providing the analysis. Marty Smith will handle the sideline reporting. The familiar voices of Gamecock Greats Todd Ellis and Tommy Suggs handle the call for the Gamecock Radio Network with Jamar Nesbit on the sidelines.
 
A LITTLE HISTORY: 2020 marks the 127th season of intercollegiate football at the University of South Carolina, dating back to 1892. It is the 114th-consecutive year in which South Carolina has competed on the gridiron. The University did not field a team in either 1893 or 1906. Carolina owns an all-time record of 612-588-44, a .510 winning percentage.
 
IT JUST MEANS MORE: The 2020 season marks South Carolina’s 29th year in the Southeastern Conference. South Carolina and Arkansas joined the league prior to the 1992 campaign. The Gamecocks earned the SEC Eastern Division title in the 2010 season. The Gamecocks are 97-127-1 (.433) all-time in SEC regular-season play, but are 42-39 (.519) in conference action since the start of the 2010 season.
 
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY: The 2020 season marks the 10th anniversary of the 2010 squad that captured the SEC Eastern Division title and went on to appear in the SEC Championship game in Atlanta against eventual national champion Auburn. It’s the Gamecocks only division title since joining the Southeastern Conference.
 
CAROLINA VS. FLORIDA: This is the 41st meeting in a series that dates back to 1911. The Gators lead the all-time series, 28-9-3, including a 15-2 advantage in Gainesville and a 12-7-1 lead when playing in Columbia. The teams have also met three times at a neutral site with Florida winning once and the other two games ending in a tie. The Gamecocks have won five of the last 10 contests between the two squads after losing 18 of the previous 19 meetings.
 
JUST GETTING WARMED UP: The Gamecocks have won five of the last 10 gridiron battles with the Gators after winning just four of the first 30 meetings between the two schools.
 
LAST YEAR IN COLUMBIA: Kyle Trask threw for a career-high four touchdowns as No. 9/9 Florida rallied past the Gamecocks, 38-27, on Oct. 19, 2019 in Columbia. Carolina held a 20-17 lead going into the final period, but surrendered 21-consecutive points on three touchdowns passes by Trask in the fourth quarter. The Gator quarterback completed 21-of-33 passes on the day for 200 yards with an interception. Tavien Feaster had his best game as a Gamecock, rushing 25 times for 175 yards. Ryan Hilinski was just 17-of-35 for 170 yards in the loss.
 
LAST TIME IN THE SWAMP:  No. 19/21 Florida rallied from a 31-14 deficit with under 20 minutes left in the game to pull out a 35-31 win over South Carolina in the Swamp on Nov. 10, 2018. The Gamecocks took an early 14-0 lead and the Gators did not go in front until four minutes remained in the contest. Jake Bentley completed 18-of-28 passes for 239 yards, with Deebo Samuel on the receiving end of four passes for 120 yards. Jordan Scarlett (159) and Lamical Perine (107) both went over the century mark on the ground for the Gators, who pounded out 367 rushing yards.
 
THE LAST CAROLINA WIN: Jake Bentley shook off three interceptions to throw for 249 yards and scored a pair of rushing touchdowns as the Gamecocks posted a 28-20 win over the Gators and interim head coach Randy Shannon on Nov. 11, 2017 in Columbia. A.J. Turner ran 22 times for 136 yards and Mon Denson rushed for the first two touchdowns of his career, as Carolina had its best offensive game of the season with 469 total yards.
 
ONCE A GATOR: Several members of the Carolina football program were once part of Gator Nation. Head coach Will Muschamp (2011-14); assistants Kyle Krantz (2013-14), Mike Peterson (1995-98, 2014-15) and Travaris Robinson (2011-14); DFO George Wynn (2011-17) and Director-Player Personnel Drew Hughes (2014-17) have all been Florida Gators.
 
IT JUST MEANS MORE: The Gamecocks boast 13 players from the state of Florida including Matthew Bailey (Deland), Jaheim Bell (Lake City), Jahmar Brown (Ft. Lauderdale), John Dixon (Tampa), Gilber Edmond (Fort Pierce), Mark Fox (Miami), Deshaun Fenwick (Bradenton), Landon Grier (Ft. Lauderdale), Dominick Hill (Orlando), Rosendo Louis Jr. (Deerfield Beach), Vincent Murphy (Ft. Lauderdale), Keir Thomas (Miami) and ZaQuandre White (Cape Coral).
 
WHERE THERE’S A WILL: Will Muschamp has been part of this rivalry as a head coach eight times, posting a pair of wins. He is 1-3 against the Gators as South Carolina’s head coach after posting a 1-3 mark against the Gamecocks as Florida’s head coach. Coach Muschamp compiled a 28-21 record in four seasons at Florida.
 
EARLY DATE: The Carolina – Florida contest on Oct. 3 is the earliest date these two schools have ever met, surpassing the previous earliest date of Oct. 17, 1964. Since Carolina joined the SEC in 1992, 26 of the 28 games have been contested in November, but this is the second year in a row that the game is being played in October.
 
FAMILIAR FACES: Will Muschamp is one of five Division I head coaches who will coach against his former school this season. Three of the five are SEC coaches facing their former SEC school:
Will Muschamp (South Carolina) vs Florida
Nick Saban (Alabama) vs LSU
Les Miles (Kansas) at Oklahoma State
Ed Orgeron (LSU) at Ole Miss
Colorado (Karl Dorrell) vs UCLA
 
BEATING THE BEST: With the Gators moving up to third in the country in both national polls, the Gamecocks have a chance to go on the road and knock off the Associated Press’s third-ranked team for the second year in a row. Last year, Carolina went into Athens and topped the No. 3 Georgia Bulldogs, 20-17 in two overtimes. That win matched the second-best win in school history, based on the AP rankings, topped only by the 2010 win over No. 1 Alabama. The Gamecocks also went to Chapel Hill in 1981 and routed the No. 3 North Carolina Tar Heels by a 31-13 score. Six of Carolina’s top eight wins have come since 2009
 
ABOUT LAST WEEK: The Gamecocks opened the 2020 season at home last Saturday night and dropped a hard-fought 31-27 decision to No. 16/21 Tennessee. Carolina drove right down the field on its first possession to take an early 7-0 lead. The Vols scored the next three touchdowns to open up a 21-7 advantage early in the third quarter, but the Gamecocks stormed back to tie the game at 21 and again at 24. Jarrett Guarantano hit Josh Palmer on a 32-yard scoring strike with 9:35 left in the contest for a 31-24 UT lead. The Gamecocks would get a Parker White 45-yard field goal with 3:16 to play, but after the defense got a late stop, a special teams miscue cost Carolina a final chance to score.
 
CLOSE BUT NO CIGAR: The Gamecocks dropped a four-point decision to Tennessee. It was the eighth time in the last nine years that the SC-UT contest was decided by six points or less. The Gamecocks are now 14-8 in one-score games (8 points or less) under Will Muschamp.
 
HILL OF A DEBUT: Graduate transfer quarterback Collin Hill made his first start for the Gamecocks. He connected on 25-of-39 passes for 290 yards with one touchdown and one interception, a pick-six by Henry To’o To’o. Hill’s 290-yard performance matched Todd’s Ellis’s 1988 outing against North Carolina as the sixth-best passing game in a season-opener in school history.
 
SHI LIGHTS – HAVE YOU SEEN HIM?: Senior wide receiver Shi Smith was impressive against Tennessee for the second-straight year. The senior wide out caught 10 passes for 140 yards and a touchdown in the season opener. Last year, he hauled in 11 passes for 156 and a score against the Vols. Last Saturday’s performance matched the second-best season opener for a Gamecock wide receiver and was the best effort in an opener since 1984.
 
MR. CONSISTENT: Placekicker Parker White picked up right where he left off last season, connecting on field goal attempts of 35- and 45-yards, along with three extra points, accounting for nine of the Gamecocks’ 27 points against Tennessee. White has now connected on each of his last 12 field goal attempts, dating back to the Georgia game in 2019. The school record for consecutive field goals made is 15, set by Collin Mackie from 1987-88. White owns the fourth-longest current consecutive streak of field goals made.
 
THIRD DOWN IS OUR DOWN: The Gamecocks held Tennessee to just one third-down conversion in 11 tries. It was a point of emphasis for Carolina, as they allowed opponents to convert on 38 percent of third-down opportunities last season. The Gamecocks and Oklahoma lead the nation in third-down percentage defense early in 2020.
 
HOLD THAT BALL: The Gamecocks dominated the time of possession against Tennessee, holding the ball for 34:50 of the 60 minutes. Last season, Carolina averaged just 27:01 in time of possession. The 34:50 against the Vols marked the high mark for a Gamecock team since they logged 35:41 in TOP against Florida in 2017. The Gamecocks rank sixth in the nation in time of possession
 
TURNOVERS THE KEY: The Gamecocks lost the turnover battle to the Vols, 2-0, with both turnovers proving critical, including a pick-six. Carolina fell to 6-13 when losing the turnover battle under Will Muschamp. The Gamecocks are 18-3 under Coach Muschamp when winning the turnover margin.
 
FIRST START: Four players made their first career starts for the Gamecocks against Tennessee. The quartet included quarterback Collin Hill (who made 11 starts at Colorado State), wide receiver Dakereon Joyner, running back Kevin Harris and safety Shilo Sanders.
 
IT DOESN’T GET EASIER: The Gamecocks are playing their second-straight ranked opponent to start the season. Five of the Gamecocks’ 10 opponents were ranked in the preseason top-10 in the Associated Press poll, (No. 4 Georgia, No. 5 Florida, No. 6 LSU, No. 8 Auburn and No. 10 Texas A&M), and two others appeared in the top-25 (No. 16 Tennessee and No. 23 Kentucky).
 
HE’S THE CHAMP: Will Muschamp is in his fifth season guiding the Carolina Football program. He has posted a 26-26 record as the Gamecocks’ head coach. The 26 wins ranks in a tie for ninth on the school’s all-time list with Sol Metzger, while his 52 games coached ranks 10th in school history. He needs three wins to move past Warren Giese (28 wins) into eighth place on the all-time wins list. Overall, Coach Muschamp is in his ninth season as a head coach, logging a 54-47 record, a .535 winning percentage, including a four-year stint at Florida (28-21, .571) .
 
COACHING CAROUSEL: Head football coach Will Muschamp made several changes to his coaching staff in the off season. On offense, former Colorado State head coach Mike Bobo was brought in to serve as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. Joe Cox takes over as the wide receivers coach and Des Kitchings will mentor the running backs. On the defensive side of the ball, veteran SEC coach Tracy Rocker will coach the defensive line with former Gamecock Rod Wilson taking over the linebackers. Kyle Krantz assumes the duties as the special teams coordinator along with serving as an assistant defensive backs coach.
 
THEY DO THE HEAVY LIFTING: The strength and conditioning staff has been overhauled, with Paul Jackson now in charge. Joining Jackson on the strength staff are Scott Salwasser, Julian Whitehead, Anthony Henderson and Jordan Sims.
 
BREAKING IT DOWN: The Gamecocks’ 112-man roster consists of two graduate transfers, 15 seniors, 22 juniors, 20 sophomores, 16 redshirt freshmen and 37 true freshmen.
 
THEY’RE BACK: The Gamecocks welcomed 43 returning letterwinners to begin the 2020 season. The lettermen consist of 21 offensive players, 21 on defense and one special teams player.
 
RETURNING STARTERS: The Gamecocks listed 13 returning starters from the 2019 squad, six on offense, six on defense and one specialist. The returning offensive starters are RG Jovaughn Gwyn, QB Ryan Hilinski, LT Sadarius Hutcherson, LG Jordan Rhodes, WR Shi Smith and RT Dylan Wonnum. The returning defensive starters are LB Sherrod Greene, CB Jaycee Horn, LB Ernest Jones, CB Israel Mukuamu, S R.J. Roderick and DE Aaron Sterling. The specialist is PK Parker White.
 
IT’S A NUMBERS GAME: Carolina returned 20 percent of its rushing yards, 95 percent of its passing yards and 43 percent of its receiving yards from 2019. Kevin Harris (179 yards) and Deshaun Fenwick (111 yards) are the top returning rushers, while Shi Smith (489 yards) and Josh Vann (171 yards) are the top returning receivers. The Gamecocks also return their top passer in Ryan Hilinski (2,357 yards). Six of the squad’s top eight tacklers are back for the 2020 season, including team-leader Ernest Jones (97 tackles) and Jammie Robinson (62 tackles). Aaron Sterling returns after leading the team in tackles for loss (10.0) and sacks (6.0), while Israel Mukuamu paced the team with four interceptions.
 
OPTING OUT: The Gamecocks have had three players opt out for the 2020 season, including wide receivers Randrecous Davis and OrTre Smith, along with  offensive lineman Mark Fox.
 
HE CHANGED HIS MIND: Offensive lineman Jordan Rhodes initially opted out for the 2020 season, but changed his mind and opted back in.
 
RECORDS WATCH:
* Shi Smith is 12th on the school’s all-time receptions list with 127. He needs 15 catches to tie Sidney Rice for 10th on the all-time list.
* Shi Smith has 1,711 career receiving yards. He needs 365 yards to match Deebo Samuel for 10th on the school’s all-time list.
* Parker White is fourth on the school’s all-time list for career field goals made with 47 and fourth in career field goals attempted with 65.
* Parker White is fifth on the school’s all-time list in extra points made (99), extra points attempted (100) and extra point percentage (.990).
* Parker White is fifth on the school’s career scoring list with 240 points.
 
NFL TIES: Jaycee Horn is the son of former NFL wide receiver Joe Horn. Damani Staley is the son of former Gamecock and NFL running back Duce Staley. Shilo Sanders is the son of former NFL and MLB standout Deion Sanders, a member of both the College and Pro Football Hall of Fame. Dylan Wonnum is the younger brother of former Gamecock, D.J. Wonnum, who is with the Minnesota Vikings. Fabian Goodman is the son of former Gamecock Andre Goodman, who logged 10 seasons in the NFL. Elisha Brooks is the son of former Gamecock and NFL star Robert Brooks. Nick Muse‘s older brother, Tanner, is a member of the Las Vegas Raiders.
 
COACH SPEAK: The SEC Coaches tabbed OL Sadarius Hutcherson, DL Aaron Sterling and DB Israel Mukuamu to their preseason second-team All-SEC unit, while LB Ernest Jones and DB Jaycee Horn were selected to the preseason third-team unit by the league’s 14 coaches.
 
THE MEDIA OPINES: OL Sadarius Hutcherson and DB Israel Mukuamu were named to the preseason second-team All-SEC unit by the SEC media, while Aaron Sterling was a third-team selection. The Gamecocks were tabbed to finish fifth in the SEC East in the media’s preseason poll.
 
ATHLON SAYS: Athlon magazine listed six Gamecocks among its 2020 preseason All-SEC teams. OL Sadarius Hutcherson and DL Aaron Sterling were second team selections, LB Ernest Jones, CB Jaycee Horn and S Jammie Robinson were named to the third-team unit, while PK Parker White was a fourth-team selection.
 
PHIL STEELE REPORTS: Phil Steele Publications recognized seven Gamecocks on his preseason all-conference teams. OL Sadarius Hutcherson, DB Jaycee Horn and DB Israel Mukuamu all earned second-team All-SEC accolades, while LB Ernest Jones and TE Nick Muse were third team selections. WR Shi Smith and DL Kingsley Enagbare were named to the fourth-team unit.
 
TOTING THE SHEEPSKIN: Thirteen Gamecock football players already have their diplomas in hand. Those who have earned undergraduate degrees include: Slade Carroll, Spencer Eason-Riddle, Jabari Ellis, Chandler Farrell, Jaylan Foster, Collin Hill, Sadarius Hutcherson, Christian Kinsley, Sean McGonigal, Adam Prentice, Keir Thomas, M.J. Webb and Parker White.
 
ACADEMICALLY SPEAKING: The Gamecocks placed 47 players on the 2019 SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll. Gamecock football student-athletes posted a combined 3.614 GPA in Spring 2020, the highest mark on record. The previous high was 3.084 in the spring of 2019. They fell just short of obtaining another combined GPA of 3.0 or better in the fall of 2019, coming in at 2.985, despite being in-season.
 
2019 IN REVIEW: South Carolina concluded its 126th season of intercollegiate football in 2019 with a record of 4-8, including a 3-5 mark in the SEC. The highlight of the season was a 20-17 double-overtime win at Georgia, a team that finished fourth in the final Associated Press poll. Four of the Gamecocks’ eight losses were to teams that finished the season in the top-20 in the A.P.’s final poll, including No. 2 Clemson, No. 6 Florida, No. 8 Alabama and No. 19 Appalachian State.
 
NO EXCUSES, BUT THAT WAS TOUGH: The Gamecocks faced the nation’s toughest regular-season schedule during the 2019 season. Gamecock opponents averaged 8.9 wins, the high-water mark for any school in 2019, and all nine of their opponents that appeared in bowl games, won a bowl game. South Carolina’s Division I opponents combined for a 101-44 record, a .697 winning percentage. Using the NCAA formula, the Gamecocks (99-46, .683) faced the toughest schedule in the country, just ahead of Auburn (107-50, .682).
 
I FEEL A DRAFT: The Gamecocks had four players from the 2019 team selected in the 2020 NFL Draft. Defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw was selected in the first round by the San Francisco 49ers with the 14th pick overall. Wide receiver Bryan Edwards went to the Las Vegas Raiders in the third round at number 81 overall. Defensive end D.J. Wonnum was selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the fourth round, the 117th pick overall. Linebacker T.J. Brunson, was a seventh-round pick of the New York Giants, the number 238 overall
 
MORE DRAFT NEWS: Javon Kinlaw was selected by San Francisco with the 14th pick in the first round of the NFL Draft. Kinlaw became the Gamecocks’ 14th first-round NFL draft pick and the ninth since 2000. With Kinlaw’s selection, the Gamecocks have produced a selection in 18 of the last 19 NFL Drafts. Kinlaw also became the 16th first-round selection coached by Will Muschamp.
 
UP NEXT: Carolina is on the road again next week when they travel to Nashville for an Oct. 10 date with the Vanderbilt Commodores. Game time is set for noon ET (11 am in Nashville). The contest will be televised on SEC Network. The Gamecocks have won a school-record 11-straight games in the series and 18 of the last 20.
 
BOBO DIALS IT UP: Mike Bobo, who spent the past five years as the head coach at Colorado State, takes over as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at South Carolina. Bobo is well-versed with the SEC, as he spent 14 years as an assistant at Georgia, his alma mater. A 2012 Broyles Award finalist, he has coached on five SEC East and two SEC championship teams.
 
QB1: Collin Hill, a graduate transfer who played for Mike Bobo at Colorado State University, edged out sophomore incumbent Ryan Hilinski for the starting nod at quarterback. The 6-4, 222-pounder from Moore, S.C., appeared in 18 games including 11 starts at Colorado State while battling through three ACL injuries. While playing quarterback for the Rams, he completed 263-of-433 passes (60.7 pct.) for 3,323 yards with 23 touchdowns and 11 interceptions, including five career 300-yard passing games.
 
MORE ON HILL: Collin Hill logged a 3-8 record as a starter at CSU. He was 2-2 in four starts as a true freshman in 2016; was redshirted in 2017; was winless in four starts in 2018; and 1-2 in three starts in 2019. His last appearance came in a start against Arkansas on Sept. 14, 2019. All three of his seasons ended prematurely with an ACL injury.
HILL’S CAROLINA DEBUT: Collin Hill, who grew up in Moore, S.C. and prepped at Dorman High School, made his first collegiate start in the Palmetto State last Saturday against Tennessee. He responded with a 25-for-39, 290-yard effort with one touchdown and one interception.
 
GATOR SIGHTING: Collin Hill has faced the Florida Gators once in his career. Hill and the Rams went to The Swamp on Sept. 15, 2018, and were handed a 48-10 setback. Hill was 2-for-8 for 23 yards in that contest.
 
QB2: For the second year in a row, sophomore Ryan Hilinski opens the season as the Gamecocks’ backup quarterback. Hilinski was forced into a starting role in the second game of the 2019 season following a season-ending injury to starter Jake Bentley, and started the final 11 games of the season. He is 4-7 as a starting signal-caller. He set school freshmen records for pass completions and attempts in 2019, and set a school record with 180 consecutive passes without an interception.
 
THE RUNNING BACK ROOM: The Gamecocks opened the season with a “committee” handling the carries. The Gamecocks are without the services of highly-touted freshman running back MarShawn Lloyd, who suffered an ACL injury early in fall camp and will miss the entire season.
     Sophomore Kevin Harris got the start against Tennessee and led the team with 13 carries for 55 yards and a touchdown. He is a bowling-ball style of runner who is tough to bring down. He was slowed by injuries and playing behind three senior running backs as a true freshman, but tied a school record when he scored three rushing touchdowns in the Charleston Southern game in 2019 while racking up 147 yards on just six carries. He played in six games last season, carrying 21 times for 179 yards, an 8.5-yard average, with four touchdowns.
     Redshirt sophomore Deshaun Fenwick is now one of the “veterans” in the running backs’ room. He is a bigger back with natural ability running with the football who has logged a pair of 100-yard games despite playing in just seven games and carrying the pigskin in just four contests over the previous two seasons. He carried six times for 33 yards against Tennessee in the opener, a team-best 5.2 yards per tote, and added four receptions for 45 yards.
     ZaQuandre White is a JUCO transfer who began his career at Florida State. He was slowed by a hamstring injury during fall camp, but showed flashes that made him one of the nation’s top running back recruits coming out of high school. He had seven carries for 19 yards against the Vols.
 
HE’S SHI, BUT KNOW HIS NAME: Senior wide receiver Shi Smith becomes the No. 1 receiver for the Gamecocks after working in the shadows of Deebo Samuel and Bryan Edwards over the past three seasons and is the team’s top playmaker. He stepped up in the opener with a 10-catch, 140-yard performance against Tennessee. He has 127 career receptions for 1,711 yards. He is ranked 12th on the school’s all-time list of receptions. He also has returned 18 kickoffs for 401 yards, a 22.3-yard average. Smith has played in 35 games with 27 starts, second among the returning players.
 
THE X FACTOR: Sophomore Xavier Legette is considered the Gamecocks’ second-best receiver. He hauled in four passes for 61 yards in the opener against Tennessee, including a 42-yard reception. Legette was a quarterback in his school and is still learning the nuances of the position, but is athletic and has a high ceiling.
 
DOUBLE-DUTY DOTY: True freshman Luke Doty has been getting double-duty since his arrival, serving as the Gamecocks’ No. 3 quarterback and also working his way into the rotation at wide receiver. One of the fastest players on the team, the Carolina coaches are looking at several ways to ge the versatile performer on the field this season.
 
MUSE ON THE MACKEY: Senior Nick Muse, the latest in a long line of standout Gamecock tight ends, was named to the preseason John Mackey Award watch list, which recognizes the nation’s top tight end. The senior who joined the Gamecocks at the start of fall camp in 2019 following a transfer from William & Mary, is coming off an ACL injury. He is regarded as a good blocker who has shown agility after the catch.
 
THROW IT TO THE TIGHT END: Senior Nick Muse was on the receiving end of four passes for 50 yards in the season opener against Tennessee. He was the only tight end to catch a pass in the opener.
 
DEPTH AND EXPERIENCE: The Gamecocks have probably their deepest and most experienced offensive line under head coach Will Muschamp. The o-line should be one of the strengths of the offense this season.
     Fifth-year senior Sadarius Hutcherson, a preseason all-league selection and a member of the Outland Trophy Watch List, leads the unit. He has returned to his more natural guard position after playing left tackle last season. He has made 30 career starts, most on the squad, including 27-consecutive starts.
     Dylan Wonnum, a Freshman All-American two years ago, returns to man a tackle position after being hampered by an ankle injury for much of the 2019 campaign. He is capable of playing either the left or right tackle and opened the season as the left tackle. He is also on the Wuerffel Trophy Watch List and a member of SAAC.
     Redshirt sophomore Jovaughn Gwyn, who is considered one of the strongest players on the squad, starts at right guard. He has started 12-consecutive games.
     Junior Eric Douglas has earned the starting nod at center in the 2020 season opener. He started the season the season opener last year against North Carolina and has appeared in 22 games during his career.
     A handful of candidates are capable of handling that open tackle position opposite of Wonnum. Redshirt freshman Jakai Moore got the nod against Tennessee. Others who could figure in the mix are true freshman Vershon Lee, sophomore Jaylen Nichols, junior Jordan Rhodes and JUCO transfer Jazston Turnetine. Moore, Nichols and Rhodes all having starting experience in the SEC.
 
THE VETERANS UP FRONT: The Gamecock defensive line features three seniors and a junior in the starting lineup. Keir Thomas and Jabari Ellis work in the middle, while preseason All-SEC pick Aaron Sterling plays defensive end and junior Kingsley (JJ) Enagbare works at the BUCK. Sterling has logged the best numbers, entering the 2020 season with 16.0 tackles for loss and 9.0 sacks.
 
A STERLING PERFORMER: Senior defensive end Aaron Sterling put together his best season a year ago when he led Carolina with 10.0 tackles for loss, including 6.0 sacks, matching first-round NFL draft pick Javon Kinlaw for the team lead. He was also credited with four quarterback hurries, tying for the team lead, and a pair of pass breakups.
 
KINGSLEY WITH A ROYAL EFFORT: Kingsley “JJ” Enagbare got off to a good start on Saturday against Tennessee, recording a career-high nine tackles, including a pair of sacks, and forced a fumble while making his debut at the BUCK position.
 
TALENT BEHIND THEM: The Gamecocks have a trio of highly-touted players right behind that veteran quartet up front. Junior Rick Sandidge and sophomore Zacch Pickens both anchor the middle of the line, while Jordan Burch is a freshman BUCK who is the second-highest ranked recruit to sign with Carolina behind only Jadeveon Clowney.
 
KEEPING UP WITH JONESES: Junior linebacker Ernest Jones is the vocal leader of the defense from the MIKE position. A preseason All-SEC selection, Jones led the team in tackles as a sophomore with 97 stops, 20 more than anyone else on the squad.  He ranked fourth in the SEC with 8.1 tackles per game a year ago. He was the team leader again in the season opener against Tennessee with 11 stops.
 
CORNERING THE MARKET: The Gamecocks believe they have one of the best cornerback tandems in the country in juniors Jaycee Horn and Israel Mukuamu.
     Horn is still looking for his elusive first career interception but a deeper dive into the numbers shows that teams simply don’t complete many passes on the talented corner. According to PFF, Horn played 1,426 defensive snaps in his first two years with opponents targeting his receiver just 100 times for 57 completions. Horn allowed just two touchdowns, according to PFF.
     Mukuamu has received more accolades after bursting on the national scene with a three-interception performance in the upset win at Georgia last season. One of the taller cornerbacks in the game at 6-4, Mukuamu owns five career interceptions and was listed on both the Thorpe and Lott IMPACT Trophy watch lists.
 
SAFETY FIRST: The Gamecocks have two hard-hitting safeties in junior R.J. Roderick and sophomore Jammie Robinson. Roderick had never played safety prior to his arrival on campus. He has appeared in all 26 games over the past two seasons, making 17 starts. He owns 114 career tackles with a pair of interceptions. Robinson earned Freshman All-SEC and second-team Freshman All-America honors in 2019.
 
WHITE ON THE MONEY: Senior placekicker Parker White has worked his way into being a very consistent and productive placekicker for the Gamecocks. He has converted 47-of-65 field goals in his career, 72.3 percent, including 33-of-36 (91.7 pct.) from inside 40 yards. His 47 field goals made and 65 field goals attempted both rank fourth on the school’s all-time list. He also ranks fifth on the school’s all-time scoring list with 240 points. White owns a career long of 50 yards and has five fourth-quarter or overtime game-winning field goals in his career. He was 2-for-2 in field goal attempts against Tennessee in the season opener, including one from 45-yards out. He has converted each of his last 12 field goal attempts, just three shy of the school record, set by Collin Mackie from 1987-88.
 
FRESH FISH: True freshman punter Kai Kroeger takes over for the record-setting Joseph Charlton, who is regarded as the best punter in school history and is now punting for the Carolina Panthers. Kroeger punted six times in the opener for a 35.2-yard average with two inside the 20.