Nov. 28, 2007

Six University of South Carolina players were named to the 2007 SEC All-Freshman Team, as selected by The Sporting News, it was announced today. The Gamecocks were represented by more members on the 25-man squad than any other Southeastern Conference school.

Wide receiver Dion Lecorn and tight end Weslye Saunders represented South Carolina on the offensive side of the ball, defensive tackle Ladi Ajiboye, defensive end Travian Robertson and linebacker Cliff Matthews were named to the defensive squad, and Chris Culliver was selected as the kick returner. All six Gamecocks are true freshmen from the highly-regarded 2007 recruiting class.

Lecorn was the Gamecocks’ fourth-leading receiver, catching 27 passes for 315 yards and three touchdowns. He started six of the final eight games and logged 16 of his receptions for 215 yards in the final three contests. He had a career-best eight-catch, 109-yard performance against Arkansas. Saunders caught a dozen passes for 151 yards, an average of 12.6 yards per catch.

Ajiboye made 10 starts, most among the Gamecock freshmen, recording 39 tackles, including 3.0 sacks. Robertson was the only freshman to start the season opener against Louisiana-Lafayette. He notched seven tackles in 12 games. Matthews logged 26 tackles including 2.0 tackles for loss while starting each of the final nine games at outside linebacker.

Culliver ranked eighth in the SEC in kick returns, averaging 23.8 yards per return. He logged 809 kick return yards, the second-highest mark in school history.

The Gamecocks wrapped up the 2007 regular season with a 6-6 record overall, 3-5 in SEC play.

PLAYERS ON THE 2007 SPORTING NEWS SEC ALL-FRESHMAN TEAM

South Carolina – 6; Auburn – 4; Alabama – 3; Georgia – 3; Arkansas – 2; Florida – 2; LSU – 2; Tennessee – 2; Mississippi State – 1.