Oct. 1, 2007

University of South Carolina quarterback Chris Smelley has been selected as the Freshman of the Week in the Southeastern Conference, the league office announced today.

Smelley, a 6-2, 216-pound redshirt freshman made his just second career start on Saturday and led the Gamecocks to a 38-21 win over Mississippi State. While celebrating his 21st birthday, Smelley completed 19-of-37 passes for 279 yards and two touchdowns, all career highs. The Tuscaloosa, Ala. native connected on touchdown passes of 20 and 27 yards to wide receiver Kenny McKinley. The Gamecocks rolled up 402 yards of total offense against the Bulldogs.

The 11th-ranked Gamecocks (4-1, 2-1 SEC) will host the eighth-ranked Kentucky Wildcats (5-0, 1-0 SEC) on Thursday night at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia. The 7:30 p.m. game will be televised nationally by ESPN.