June 3, 2011

Wide receiver Alshon Jeffery and cornerback Stephon Gilmore were named to the 2011 Playboy Preseason All-America team. In addition, head coach Steve Spurrier was named the preseason Coach of the Year by the men’s magazine.

Jeffery, a 6-4, 233-pound junior from St. Matthews, S.C., was a Biletnikoff finalist last year after breaking the school records with 88 receptions for 1,517 yards. He was a first-team All-American as selected by AFCA, FWAA, Phil Steele and ESPN.com and was a second-team All-American according to Walter Camp, the Associated Press, Sports Illustrated and CollegeFootballNews.com.

Gilmore, a 6-1, 194-pound junior from Rock Hill, S.C. was a 2010, first-team All-SEC selection by the league’s coaches and by Phil Steele. He earned second-team All-SEC and third-team All-America honors from the Associated Press after logging a team-high 79 tackles with three interceptions.

Spurrier was named the 2010 SEC Coach of the Year by his peers after leading the Gamecocks to a 9-5 record and their first SEC Eastern Division title. The squad finished the season ranked 22nd in the country. He has been named his league’s Coach of the Year nine times during his career.

This is the 55th year that Playboy has been selecting a preseason All-America football team. Gary Cole, along with help from NFL football guru Gil Brandt, has been selecting the team for the past 25 years.

The Gamecocks open their season on September 3 in Charlotte against East Carolina.