Dec. 6, 2005

South Carolina freshman wide receiver Sidney Rice and sophomore safety Ko Simpson were named to the all-Southeastern Conference first team as selected by the league’s 12 coaches, the conference office announced today.

Rice leads the league in receiving yards per game at 95.2, finishing the regular season with four 100-yard receiving games in his last five contests. The 6-4, 191-pounder from Gaffney, S.C., caught 58 passes for 952 yards and 12 touchdowns, just two shy of the NCAA freshman receiving record.

Simpson, a 6-1, 202-pounder from Rock Hill, S.C., leads the SEC defensive backs in tackles, averaging 8.5 stops per game. He was a second team selection a year ago.

Rice and Simpson were named first team all-conference by the Associated Press on Monday. In addition, Gamecocks’ head coach Steve Spurrier was honored as the AP SEC Coach of the Year.

The Gamecocks will take on the Missouri Tigers in the Independence Bowl in Shreveport, La. on December 30. Game time is set for 3:30 p.m. ET