Gamecocks and Gators Set for Noon Kick Saturday, Oct. 19
Carolina Eyes Second-Straight Win over Top-10 Team
QUICKLY: It’s State Fair week and Hall of Fame weekend as the South Carolina Gamecocks (3-3, 2-2 SEC) host the No. 9/9 Florida Gators (6-1, 3-1 SEC) on Saturday, Oct. 19. Game time is set for noon ET at Williams-Brice Stadium (80,250) in Columbia. ESPN will televise the game nationally with Dave Pasch and Greg McElroy in the booth and Tom Luginbill working the sidelines.
THE HISTORY: 2019 marks the 126th season of intercollegiate football at the University of South Carolina, dating back to 1892. It is the 113th-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 611-582-44, a .512 winning percentage.
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY: The 2019 season marks the 50th anniversary of the 1969 South Carolina squad that won the Atlantic Coast Conference title with a perfect 6-0 mark under Paul Dietzel. That team was rewarded with a trip to the Peach Bowl and will be introduced at halftime of this week’s game. 2019 also marks the 25th anniversary of the 1994 South Carolina team that went 7-5 including the school’s first bowl victory – a 24-21 win over West Virginia in the Carquest Bowl.
IT JUST MEANS MORE: The 2019 season marks South Carolina’s 28th year in the Southeastern Conference. South Carolina and Arkansas joined the league prior to the 1992 campaign. The Gamecocks earned their lone SEC Eastern Division title in 2010. The Gamecocks are 96-123-1 (.439) all-time in SEC regular-season play, but are 41-35 (.539) in conference action since the start of the 2010 season.
HALL OF FAME: Nine Gamecock Greats have their induction ceremony into the University of South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame on Thursday, Oct. 17, and will be recognized at halftime during Saturday’s game. The nine include: Gary Binfield from swimming; Kristi Coggins from women’s golf; Rashad Faison and Marcus Lattimore from football; Cally Plummer from volleyball; Jim Schaper from track & field; Derick Urquhart from baseball; and multi-sport standouts Joe Grugan and Harry Wolf. Binfield, Grugan and Wolf are being inducted posthumously. Since the University of South Carolina Athletics Hall of Fame was created in 1967, 187 members, including these nine, have been selected by the South Carolina Association of Lettermen.
CAROLINA VS. FLORIDA: This is the 40th meeting in a series that dates back to 1911. The Gators lead the all-time series, 27-9-3, including an 11-7-1 lead when playing in Columbia and a 15-2 advantage in Gainesville. 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 nine 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 nine gridiron battles with the Gators after winning just four of the first 30 meetings between the two schools.
LAST YEAR IN THE SWAMP: #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 take the lead 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 TIME THEY MET HERE: 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.
IT JUST MEANS MORE: The Gamecocks boast 10 players from the state of Florida including Matthew Bailey (Deland), Jahmar Brown (Ft. Lauderdale), Jordon Carty (Lauderdale Lakes), Jamel Cook (Miami), John Dixon (Tampa), Mark Fox (Miami), Deshaun Fenwick (Bradenton), Rosendo Louis Jr. (Deerfield Beach), Vincent Murphy (Ft. Lauderdale) and Keir Thomas (Miami).
WHERE THERE’S A WILL: Will Muschamp has been part of this rivalry as a head coach seven times, posting a pair of wins. He is 1-2 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.
ONCE A GATOR: Several members of the Carolina football program were once part of Gator Nation. Head coach Will Muschamp (2011-14); assistants Coleman Hutzler (2010-11, 2014), Kyle Krantz (2013-14), Mike Peterson (1995-98, 2014-15) and Travaris Robinson (2011-14); strength & conditioning coaches Jeff Dillman (2012-14) and Mark Campbell (1992-95, 2002-17); and DFO George Wynn (2011-17) have all been Florida Gators.
EARLY DATE: The Carolina – Florida contest on Oct. 19 matches 1912 for the second-earliest date these two teams have met in a season, surpassed only by the game on Oct. 17, 1964. 26 of the last 27 meetings have come in November.
FAMILIAR FACES: Will Muschamp is one of 10 Division I head coaches who will coach against his former school this season. Three of the 10 are SEC coaches facing their former SEC school:
Jay Hopson (Southern Miss) vs Alcorn State
Mike London (William & Mary) at Virginia
Luke Fickell (Cincinnati) at Ohio State
Bob Davie (New Mexico) at Notre Dame
Mack Brown (North Carolina) vs App. State
Geoff Collins (Georgia Tech) at Temple
Will Muschamp (South Carolina) vs Florida
Nick Saban (Alabama) vs LSU
Les Miles (Kansas) at Oklahoma State
Ed Orgeron (LSU) at Ole Miss
THE UPSET: The Gamecocks were 24-point underdogs when they went into Athens last Saturday to face the No. 3/3 Georgia Bulldogs, but came away with a 20-17 double-overtime victory. It snapped a string of 12-consecutive losses against ranked opponents, as the Gamecocks knocked off a ranked team for the first time since defeating Tennessee in 2016, and posted a win over a top-5 squad for the first time since edging No. 5 Missouri, 27-24 in two overtimes on Oct. 26, 2013 in Columbia, Mo. South Carolina was named the Reveal Suits National Team of the Week as selected by the FWAA and its All-America Committee following the upset victory.
BEATING THE BEST: The Gamecocks win at Athens matched the second-best win in school history, based on the AP rankings, topped only by the 2010 win over No. 1 Alabama. Six of Carolina’s top eight wins have come since 2009:
No. Date Opponent AP Rank Score
1. 10/09/10 vs Alabama 1 35-21
2. 10/24/81 at North Carolina 3 31-13
10/12/19 at Georgia 3 20-17
4. 09/24/09 vs Ole Miss 4 16-10
5. 10/06/12 vs Georgia 5 35-7
10/26/13 at Missouri 5 27-24
7. 09/24/88 vs Georgia 6 23-10
09/13/14 vs Georgia 6 38-35
9. 10/04/07 vs Kentucky 8 38-23
11/21/87 vs Clemson 8 20-7
11/14/53 at West Virginia 8 20-14
NEVER BEFORE: The Gamecocks have never defeated top-10 teams in back-to-back weeks, but have a chance to make history after winning at No. 3 Georgia, as the Gators come in ranked ninth in the nation. The last time Carolina played consecutive games against top-10 teams came in 2012 when they defeated No, 5 Georgia before losing at No. 9 LSU and at No. 3 Florida.
SIMPLY THE BEST: Sophomore cornerback Israel Mukuamu had a memorable game in the win at Georgia. He logged a career-high 11 tackles and intercepted Jake Fromm three times, returning one 53 yards for a score. Fromm had entered the game without an INT this season. He became the first Gamecock to record three picks in a game since Patrick Hinton vs. NC State in 1988. Mukaumu was recognized as the Walter Camp National Defensive Player of the Week, the Chuck Bednarik Award National Player of the Week, the Bronko Nagurski Trophy National Defensive Player of the Week, the CollegeSportsMadness.com SEC and National Defensive Player of the Week, and the SEC Defensive Player of the Week.
TURNOVERS LEAD TO UPSETS: The Gamecocks were plus-4 in the turnover margin in the upset win at Georgia, forcing three interceptions and a fumble while playing turnover-free on offense. The Gamecocks came into the contest ranked 90th in the country in turnover margin at -0.40. They are now 43rd at +0.33. The Gamecocks are 17-2 under Will Muschamp when winning the turnover battle.
UNDER PRESSURE: The Gamecocks got regular pressure on Jake Fromm all game long, logging three sacks in the contest after the Bulldogs had allowed just one sack all season. Javon Kinlaw earned SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week honors after registering his SEC-leading fifth sack.
THAT’S A RECORD: Bryan Edwards caught a pass against Georgia on Saturday, the 44th-consecutive game in which he has caught a pass, the longest consecutive streak in school history, surpassing the mark of 43, set by the late Kenny McKinley from 2005-2008.
AMONG THE LEADERS: Several Gamecocks are listed in the SEC’s top-10 this week:
Rushing – Rico Dowdle – 10th – 74.8
Passing Avg/Game – Ryan Hilinski – 6th – 205.6
Receptions/Game – Bryan Edwards -8th – 5.5
Receiving Yds/Game – Bryan Edwards – 10th – 71.0
Total Offense – Ryan Hilinski – 9th – 203.2
Scoring (Kick) – Parker White – 9th – 7.2
Kick Returns – Shi Smith – 6th – 23.1
Punting – Joseph Charlton – 2nd – 48.8
Field Goals – Parker White – 6th – 1.5
Field Goal Percentage – Parker White – 6th – 69.2
PAT Kicking Pct. – Parker White – t1st – 100.0
Tackles – Ernest Jones – 2nd – 8.3
Tackles – T.J. Brunson – t7th – 7.3
Sacks – Javon Kinlaw – 1st – 0.83
Sacks – D.J. Wonnum – t7th – 0.58
Tackles for loss – D.J. Wonnum – t6th – 1.08
Passes Defended – Jaycee Horn – t8th – 1.0
Interceptions – Israel Mukuamu – t1st – 0.67
Fumbles Forced – Jaycee Horn – t2nd – 0.33
Fumbles Recovered – Javon Kinlaw – t1st – 0.33
BENTLEY IS IN THE GARAGE: Senior Jake Bentley triggered the offense from the middle of the 2016 season through the first game of the 2019 campaign. A 6-4, 220-pounder from Opelika, Ala., Bentley suffered a Lisfranc injury to his foot on the last play against North Carolina and will miss the remainder of the season after undergoing surgery during the second week of September. Bentley logged a 19-14 record as the starting signal-caller. He ranks near the top of many Carolina career statistical categories:
Pass Attempts – 1,002 (4th)
Pass Completions – 626 (3rd)
Completion Percentage – 62.5 (2nd)
Passing Yards – 7,527 (4th)
Passing Touchdowns – 55 (3rd)
Career Wins – 19 (6th)
Touchdowns Responsible For – 63 (t3rd)
NEXT MAN UP: True freshman Ryan Hilinski has taken the starting quarterback reins. Like Bentley, Hilinski, a highly-touted 6-3, 230-pound signal-caller from California, comes from a quarterbacking family. His brother Kelly played QB at Columbia and Weber State, while his brother, the late Tyler Hilinski, was a quarterback at Washington State. Hilinski joined the team in January and went through spring drills. He made his debut against Charleston Southern by hitting his first 12 passes and finished the day 24-of-30 for 282 yards with a pair of touchdowns and an interception. His 259 yards in the first half is the most passing yards by a true freshman quarterback in a single half this season. He also had one rushing touchdown. He followed that up with a 36-for-57, 324-yard, two-touchdown performance against Alabama, earning SEC Freshman of the Week accolades. He went on the road for the first time and struggled against Missouri, completing just 13-of-30 passes for 166 yards with one touchdown and one interception. He bounced back with a solid 15-for-27, 140-yard performance in a win over Kentucky, then was 15-for-20 for 116 yards and a TD at Georgia before leaving the contest with a knee injury. Through five games, he is 3-2 as a starter, connecting on 103-of-164 passes (62.8 pct.) for 1,028 yards with six TDs and three interceptions. His 205.6 passing yards per game is tops among SEC freshmen quarterbacks.
THE SIXTH MAN: When he got the call against Charleston Southern in week 2, Ryan Hilinki became just the sixth true freshman to start at quarterback for the Gamecocks since joining the SEC. Steve Taneyhill (1992), Mikal Goodman (1999), Lorenzo Nuñez (2015), Brandon McIlwain (2016) and Jake Bentley (2016) were the others. Here’s how they each fared in their first career start:
Quarterback Opp. W/L C A I Yds TD
S. Taneyhill Miss State W 7 14 1 183 2
M. Goodman Ole Miss L 8 15 0 147 0
L. Nuñez UCF W 12 22 0 184 2
B. McIlwain ECU W 16 28 0 195 0
J. Bentley UMass W 17 26 0 201 2
R. Hilinski Chas. So. W 24 30 1 282 2
DO IT ALL DAKEREON: Redshirt freshman Dakereon Joyner is the No. 2 QB. Joyner, who has also played wide receiver this season, saw his first extended action at quarterback at Missouri, completing 6-of-11 passes for 89 yards. He was not available for the Kentucky game with a hamstring injury, then was forced into action last week at Georgia after Hilinski was injured. He was 6-for-12 in that contest for 39 yards and rushed six times for 28 yards. For the season, he is 13-of-24 for 128 yards, and has rushed 16 times for 77 yards and a touchdown. If Hilinski and Joyner were unavailable, Jay Urich would be next.
SENIOR TRIO OF BACKS: New running backs coach Thomas Brown has a trio of senior running backs at his disposal in Rico Dowdle, Mon Denson and graduate transfer Tavien Feaster.
* Rico Dowdle (6-0, 215) has started every game this season, rushing 77 times for 449 yards (5.8 yards per carry) and four scores. His 74.8-yard average ranks 10th in the SEC. He has two 100-yard rushing games in 2019 (Alabama and Kentucky), and eight in his career. He now owns 2,118 yards, 15th on the school’s all-time list. He has scored 16 rushing TDs (three shy of breaking into the school’s top 10) in 35 games including 24 starts.
* Tavien Feaster (6-0, 221) has been the Gamecocks’ top rusher twice this season, rushing for 72 yards in the season opener against North Carolina and for 107 yards in the win over Kentucky. For the season, he has carried 57 times for 317 yards, a 5.6-yard average, with three TDs. Feaster, who played at Clemson in each of the previous three seasons, has rushed 279 times for 1,647 yards with 18 touchdowns over 47 career games including 12 starts.
* Mon Denson (5-10, 215) has only carried the ball in two games this season, rushing nine times for a career-high 118 yards against Charleston Southern, including a 57-yard touchdown burst, his third-career 100-yard rushing game, and 10 times for 41 yards versus Kentucky. He has five rushing TDs in 27 games including a pair of starts, including a pair of TDs against Florida in 2017.
FOUR REACH THE CENTURY MARK: The Gamecocks have had four rushers reach the 100-yard mark this season, with Rico Dowdle eclipsing the mark twice and Tavien Feaster, Mon Denson and Kevin Harris all doing so once. South Carolina is one of only five schools in the country to have four different 100-yard rushers in a game this season, joining Georgia Southern, Houston, Louisiana and Wyoming.
CATCH IT IF YOU CAN:
* Bryan Edwards ranks among the best wide receivers in school history. He has caught a pass in all 44 games in which he has appeared, surpassing Kenny McKinley’s mark of 43 for a new school record. After being limited to just one catch for seven yards against North Carolina, Edwards bounced back with a five-catch, 112-yard, two-TD performance against CSU, logged a career-high nine receptions for 79 yards against Alabama, posted a six-catch, 113-yard, one touchdown outing at Mizzou, his seventh career 100-yard receiving game, had a team-high six receptions versus Kentucky and caught six passes for 78 yards at Georgia with a touchdown. He is second on the school’s career receptions list with 196, behind only Kenny McKinley’s school record 207 receptions. Edwards also ranks third on the school’s all-time receiving yards list with 2,655. He trails only Alshon Jeffery (3,042) and Kenny McKinley (2,781) on that list. Edwards owns 20 career TDs, third on the school’s all-time list, behind only Sidney Rice and Alshon Jeffery’s mark of 23.
* Junior Shi Smith (5-10, 190) is picking up the slack following the graduation of second-round NFL draft pick Deebo Samuel. Smith was the top receiver against North Carolina, catching five passes for 55 yards, and logged six receptions for 90 yards and a score against Alabama. He is second on the team with 23 catches for 234 yards. He needs three catches to reach 100 in his career.
* Sophomore Josh Vann (2 starts) and veteran Chavis Dawkins (3 starts) work as the third and fourth receivers. Vann has 13 catches for 95 yards. After not having a reception in the first three games, Dawkins has five catches for 60 yards over the last three contests.
* Redshirt sophomore OrTre Smith did not dress for the opener, but has since returned to the field after missing most of last season following knee surgery and has contributed four catches for 42 yards. Randrecous Davis has not played this season due to a high ankle sprain. True freshman Xavier Legette has begun seeing more action and caught his first pass against Kentucky.
REVAMPED TIGHT ENDS: Bobby Bentley took over as the tight ends coach and came into a room that had just seven career Division I receptions entering the 2019 campaign. He lost K.C. Crosby and Jacob August to graduation, then lost Kiel Pollard to a career-ending medical situation during fall camp, while Evan Hinson elected to pursue a basketball career at Austin Peay.
* Fifth-year junior Kyle Markway (6-4, 250) is having a career year. Markway is third on the team with 15 catches for 177 yards and two touchdowns on the season after having just six catches coming into 2019. He had a career-high four receptions against CSU, then topped that with five catches for 46 yards against Alabama.
* Junior Nick Muse (6-3, 232), a transfer from William & Mary, got a waiver for immediate eligibility a day prior to the CSU game. He made an immediate impact with two catches for 22 yards in that contest and had four catches for 21 yards against Alabama. He added another two catches for 25 yards at Mizzou and three for a career-high 31 yards at Georgia. He has 11 receptions for 99 yards on the season. He hauled in 30 passes for 453 yards a season ago for the Tribe.
* Junior Chandler Farrell (6-3, 295), a former walk-on center, moved to tight end during fall camp to add depth. He is now wearing No. 31, rather than the 60 he has worn previously. Used primarily as a blocking tight end, Farrell is still looking for his first reception.
GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN: Senior tight end Kiel Pollard was forced to give up his playing career during fall camp. Pollard suffered a small fracture in his neck, which was to have sidelined him for 4-6 weeks. However, during an MRI, the doctors discovered a cyst on his spinal cord, which apparently has been there since he was a child. The severity of the situation and the possible long-term consequences from that medical condition forced him to retire as a player. Pollard, who will graduate in December, is helping as a student-assistant coach. He served as a team captain in the opener vs. UNC.
THE O-LINE SETTLES IN: The Gamecocks have some experience and some depth along the offensive line in what offensive line coach Eric Wolford considers his most athletic unit since rejoining the Carolina staff. Wolford shuffled the deck after the opener, inserting two new starters into the lineup. The same quintet started three-consecutive games before an ankle injury sidelined right tackle Dylan Wonnum.
* Sixth-year senior Donell Stanley (6-3, 325) anchors the unit. Stanley worked at left guard in the season opener, but has since moved back to center. He worked primarily at center during the 2018 season and has made 19-consecutive starts.
* Redshirt junior Sadarius Hutcherson (6-4, 320) protects the quarterback’s blind side from the left tackle position. Hutcherson played guard in 2018, but is strong and athletic enough to handle the tackle position. He has made 20-consecutive starts and earned a spot on Bruce Feldman’s “Freaks” list.
* Sophomore Dylan Wonnum (6-5, 310) started each of the first four games at right tackle before suffering an ankle injury in the Missouri game, which kept him out of the the last two contests. Wonnum was a Freshman All-American last season as a true freshman.
* The Gamecocks started a new pair of guards against Charleston Southern, with redshirt sophomore Jordan Rhodes (6-4, 330) taking over at left guard and redshirt freshman Jovaughn Gwyn (6-2, 305) getting the nod at right guard. They both have now started five-straight games.
* True freshman Jaylen Nichols (6-5, 320) made his first career start against Kentucky at the right tackle position, replacing the injured Dylan Wonnum, and earned that start again at Georgia.
THAT’S MORE LIKE IT: The Gamecock defense has played better over the last three games. They held the Missouri offense to 20 points, then surrendered just seven against Kentucky, while holding the Wildcats to just 212 total yards of offense, including 97 yards passing. It was the fewest yards surrendered by the Gamecocks since the 2012 season and the fewest first downs allowed (9) since holding Arkansas to seven in 2013. The Gamecock defense limited the high-powered Georgia offense to just 17 points, forcing four turnovers and collecting three sacks. In the two overtimes, South Carolina did not allow a first down while getting an interception and forcing a long field goal that went wide left.
THE FIRST LINE OF DEFENSE: This is easily the best defensive front in both depth and talent assembled at South Carolina since the days of Jadeveon Clowney and company raised havoc throughout the SEC.
* Most of the accolades have gone to Javon Kinlaw (6-6, 310), who some NFL experts have labeled a first-round NFL draft pick. He has filled up the stat line with 18 tackles including 5.0 sacks, tops in the SEC, three quarterback hurries, a pair of fumble recoveries and a blocked kick. He was the SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week for his performance at Georgia, and was a midseason All-American by both the AP (first team) and The Athletic (second team).
* D.J. Wonnum (6-5, 260) is back after missing eight games a year ago with an ankle injury.Wonnum was named a team captain in 2017 after logging 13.0 tackles for loss including 6.0 sacks. He logged three tackles for loss in the season opener against North Carolina and registered 11 tackles overall. He had his first career interception at Missouri. He was the SEC Defensive Player of the Week for his performance against Kentucky when he registered a career-high 3.0 sacks among his five tackles and forced a fumble. He has been recognized as an SEC weekly award winner four times in his career. He has 22 tackles on the season including 6.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks.
* Kobe Smith (6-2, 300) is a “glue guy” in the middle of the line and has recorded 16 tackles. He gets extra mention in the notes after serving as a summer marketing intern for Gamecock Athletics.
* The Gamecocks have been getting better play from junior defensive end Aaron Sterling (6-1, 250). For the season, Sterling has registered 19 tackles, is tied for second on the squad in tackles for loss (5.0) and is third in sacks (3.0). He also is tied for the team lead with three QB hurries, has forced a fumble and has recovered a fumble.
GETTING IN THE SACK: Through six games, Carolina has logged 15 sacks, with Javon Kinlaw leading the way with 5.0, while D.J. Wonnum (3.5) and Aaron Sterling (3.0) are right behind. The Gamecocks are the only SEC school to have at least three players with 3.0 or more sacks this season.
SACKS 2019 CAREER
D.J. Wonnum 3.5 13.0
Javon Kinlaw 5.0 9.5
Aaron Sterling 3.0 6.0
T.J. Brunson 0.0 6.0
Kier Thomas 0.0 5.5
Daniel Fennell 0.0 4.0
Brad Johnson 0.0 3.5
Jaycee Horn 1.0 3.0
Kingsley Enagbare 1.0 2.0
Kobe Smith 0.5 2.0
R.J. Roderick 1.0 1.0
Jabari Ellis 0.0 1.0
Rick Sandidge 0.0 0.5
BACKING UP THE LINE: What was a very thin unit that saw T.J. Brunson and Sherrod Greene each play over 900 snaps a year ago, the Gamecock linebacking corps is much deeper this season.
* T.J. Brunson (6-1, 230) is the veteran leader of the group. The first player that Coach Muschamp recruiting at Carolina, Brunson has logged 250 career tackles, including 106 last season alone. A 2018 team captain, he opened the 2019 season with nine stops against UNC, had a season-high 12 tackles at Missouri, had 10 stops at Georgia and is currently second on the team with 44 stops.
* Sophomore Ernest Jones (6-2, 235) earned the starting spot at the MIKE position, allowing Brunson to move back to WILL. An excellent communicator, Jones starred in his first start against UNC, registering a team-high 12 tackles, along with a pair of pass breakups. He also logged a team-high 12 tackles at Georgia. He leads the team and is second in the SEC with 50 tackles, including 2.5 tackles for loss. He logged his first career interception against Kentucky.
* Sherrod Greene (6-1, 230) started every game last season but began this season in a reserve role. He has been coming on of late, starting each of the last three games as Carolina has opened with a 4-3 look, and is playing his best football.
* Eldridge Thompson (6-1, 225) is a sixth-year senior, while junior Damani Staley (6-0, 235) also sees playing time, as does true freshman Jahmar Brown (6-1, 205).
EASON-RIDDLE AT YOUR SERVICE: Junior linebacker Spencer Eason-Riddle is one of 22 student-athletes selected for the 2019 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team®. The 22 players stood out for their leadership in local communities and overall commitment to giving back. Eason-Riddle has been a regular at both the Dorn VA Medical Center and at the oncology center of the Prisma Health Children’s Hospital. He founded and developed the “Sandstorm Buddies Program” which matches USC student-athletes with patients and their families, where they can serve in a mentor capacity with cancer patients.
RECONFIGURED SECONDARY: Defensive backs coach Travaris Robinson has a talented, but young group in his meeting room.
* J.T. Ibe (5-10, 195), a sixth-year graduate transfer, is the veteran in the secondary. Ibe missed the opener with a pec injury, something he dealt with at Rice as well, but has since returned to the starting lineup. He has 19 tackles in five games.
* Jaycee Horn (6-1, 200), who is considered the top cover corner, logged a sack and forced a pair of fumbles in the season opener, had two PBUs vs. Alabama and logged seven tackles at Georgia. He has 18 tackles on the season with a team-high six PBUs and a team-high two forced fumbles.
* Israel Mukuamu (6-4, 205), who ranks third on the team with 37 tackles while playing both corner and safety, logged seven tackles against UNC, a pick against CSU and registered eight tackles against Alabama before having a career game at Georgia with a career-high 11 tackles and three interceptions. He is one of only two players in the country with three picks in a game this season and leads the SEC and is tied for third in the country with four interceptions.
* Sophomore R.J. Roderick has worked his way into the starting lineup, seeing action at both nickel and safety. He is fourth on the team with 29 tackles and logged his first career sack against Alabama.
* True freshmen Jammie Robinson (5-11, 200) and John Dixon (6-0, 190) both started vs. UNC. They became the eighth and ninth true freshman to start a season opener for the Gamecocks since the 2009 season, joining Stephon Gilmore (2009), Marcus Lattimore (2010), Jadeveon Clowney (2011), Bryson Allen-Williams (2014), Al Harris Jr. (2014), Bryan Edwards (2016) and Jaycee Horn (2018). Dixon had a pick against CSU.
PICK THIS: After logging just six interceptions in 2018, the Gamecocks already have eight interceptions this season, including three picks against Charleston Southern, the most by Carolina in a game since the Vanderbilt win in 2015, and three more at Georgia (all by Israel Mukaumu).
INTERCEPTIONS 2019 Career
Israel Mukuamu 4 5
R.J. Roderick 1 1
John Dixon 1 1
Sherrod Greene 0 1
Ernest Jones 1 1
D.J. Wonnum 1 1
KICKING IT WITH PARKER: Redshirt junior Parker White is in his third season handling the extra point and field goal attempts. White is 9-for-13 in field goals this season with three of his four misses coming from 50 yards and beyond. He also hit a then career-long 48-yarder vs. Alabama and topped that with a 49-yarder at Georgia. He is 36-of-54 (66.7 percent) in career field goal attempts, including 26-of-29 (89.7 percent) from inside 40 yards. He is 87-for-88 on extra point attempts, including 16-for-16 this season.
WINNER, WINNER, CHICKEN DINNER: Parker White owns four fourth-quarter or overtime game-winning field goals in his career. He provided the deciding points in wins over Louisiana Tech (2017), Missouri (2018), Tennessee (2018) and Georgia (2019).
I’M CHARLTON YOUR PUNTER: Senior Joseph Charlton handles the punting chores for the Gamecocks and is an All-American candidate. He is ranked second in the country in punting average at 48.8 yards, while the Gamecocks are ranked fourth in the country in net punting at 44.39 yards. He punted nine times for a 51.2-yard average against Kentucky with a season-best 65-yarder, earning SEC Special Teams Player of the Week accolades. For the season, 15 of his 31 punts have traveled at least 50 yards, while 16 have been marked inside the 20 with just three touchbacks. His long is 65 yards.
AMONG THE NATION’S BEST: Here are the top five punters in the nation:
NAME SCHOOL G NO YDS AVG
1. Max Duffy Kentucky 6 26 1310 50.4
2. Joseph Charlton S. Carolina 6 31 1513 48.8
3. Braden Mann Texas A&M 6 24 1167 48.6
4. Oscar Bradburn Virginia Tech 6 26 1249 48.0
5. Trenton Gill NC State 6 26 1236 47.5
NOTHING BUT NET: With Joseph Charlton challenging for All-America honors, the Gamecocks are among the leaders in net punting:
SCHOOL G NO YDS RET NET
1. Kentucky 6 26 1,310 30 47.69
2. Syracuse 6 37 1,703 12 45.16
3. Colorado State 7 32 1,513 51 44.44
4. South Carolina 6 31 1,513 77 44.39
4. Virginia Tech 6 26 1,249 72 43.73
CHARLTON THE G.O.A.T.: Joseph Charlton is currently the school record holder for career punting average at 45.2-yards per punt.
CAREER PUNTING AVERAGE (Min. 75 Punts)
1. Joseph Charlton (2015-19)…….. 45.2 (134 for 6055)
2. Sean Kelly (2015-16)…………… 43.3 (127 for 5496)
3. Spencer Lanning (2007-10)….. 42.6 (171 for 7292)
4. Ryan Succop (2005-08)……….. 42.3 (85 for 3597)
5. Tom O’Connor (1984-85)…… 41.8 (118 for 4934)
PUNT RETURN SPECIALIST: Bryan Edwards serves as the Gamecocks’ primary punt returner. He had a big game in the season opener against North Carolina, returning three punts for 66 yards with a career-long of 38, but does not have a punt return since that time.
REPLACING DEEBO: It’s tough to replace the school’s record-holder in kickoff return average, but Shi Smith is doing his best to make people forget Deebo Samuel. Smith returned three kicks for 100 yards, including a 60-yarder that set up a third-quarter touchdown against North Carolina. He is averaging 23.1 yards on seven returns.
SNAPPING BACK: Graduate transfer Matt Oliveira handles the short and deep snapping duties. Oliveira has experience, having been the long snapper each of the last two seasons for Maryland.
WATCH ME NOW: The Gamecocks had 11 players on the Senior Bowl preseason watch list, the third-highest total in the country. The list includes Jake Bentley, T.J. Brunson, Joseph Charlton, Rico Dowdle, Bryan Edwards, Tavien Feaster, Javon Kinlaw, Kyle Markway, Donell Stanley, Keir Thomas and D.J. Wonnum.
OLD-TIMERS GAME: The Gamecocks have four players – Caleb Kinlaw, J.T. Ibe, Donell Stanley and Eldridge Thompson – who are in their sixth-year of eligibility. Their first collegiate season was in 2014. South Carolina and Akron are the only Division I schools with four sixth-year players on the roster.
WORKING OVERTIME: The Gamecocks are 3-4 all-time in games decided in overtime, including a 2-0 mark when it goes to a second overtime.
Date Opponent W/L Score No. of OT
09/27/03 at Tennessee L 20-23 1
10/27/07 at Tennessee L 24-27 1
10/26/13 at Missouri W 27-24 2
11/01/14 vs Tennessee L 42-45 1
11/15/14 at Florida W 23-20 1
12/29/16 USF (Birmingham) L 39-46 1
10/12/19 at Georgia W 20-17 2
YOUR MONEY’S NO GOOD HERE: Just prior to the start of the 2019 academic year, walk-on linebacker Spencer Eason-Riddle was rewarded with a scholarship.
FAMILY TIES: Sophomore defensive back Jaycee Horn is the son of former NFL wide receiver Joe Horn, junior linebacker Damani Staley is the son of former Gamecock and NFL running back Duce Staley, while 2019 signee Shilo Sanders is the son of former NFL and MLB standout Deion Sanders.
TOTING THE SHEEPSKIN: Thirteen Gamecocks already have their undergraduate degree in hand including: Joseph Charlton, Mon Denson, Spencer Eason-Riddle, Chandler Farrell, Tavien Feaster, Daniel Fennell, Bailey Hart, J.T. Ibe, Caleb Kinlaw, Kyle Markway, Matt Oliveira, Donell Stanley and Eldridge Thompson.
THE CAP AND GOWN AWAITS: Fourteen Gamecocks are on track to graduate in December. The list includes: Michael Almond, Jake Bentley, T.J. Brunson, Rico Dowdle, Bryan Edwards, Daniel Fennell (Master’s), Sadarius Hutcherson, Javon Kinlaw, Kiel Pollard, Kobe Smith, Keir Thomas, Will Tommie, A.J. Turner, and Alexander Woznick.
LOVE US FOR OUR MINDS: Gamecock football student-athletes posted a combined 3.026 GPA in the fall semester of 2018, the best in school history, then topped that with a 3.084 team GPA in the spring of 2019.
UP NEXT: The Gamecocks are back on the road next week as they travel to Knoxville for an Oct. 26 date with the Tennessee Volunteers.
