Sept. 4, 2006

University of South Carolina punter/placekicker Ryan Succop has been named the Southeastern Conference Special Teams Player of the Week for his performance in the Gamecocks’ season-opening 15-0 win at Mississippi State, it was announced today.

Succop, a sophomore from Hickory, N.C. handled the punting and placekicking chores for the first time in his career at Mississippi State. He responded by hitting all three of his field goal attempts – from 39, 35 and 47 yards. He also punted six times for a 48.7-yard average, including a long of 58 yards. His net punting was an impressive 47.8 yards. He may have had the play of the game when he avoided a certain blocked punt and scrambled 16 yards for a first down, setting up a USC score. Succop accounted for nine of Carolina’s 15 points.

“I’ve coached a lot of games. I’ve never seen a kicker/punter have the kind of game he had tonight,” Head Coach Steve Spurrier said following the game. “He had an All-American kind of night, kicking and punting.”

Succop and the Gamecocks are preparing for Saturday’s 7:45 p.m. contest against the Georgia Bulldogs. That contest will be televised nationally on ESPN.