Aug. 21, 2014

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The University of South Carolina garnered eight selections on the preseason All-SEC team as chosen by the 14 league coaches, it was announced today.

Leading the way was junior running back Mike Davis, the Gamecocks’ lone selection to the first team unit. Davis, a 5-9, 223-pounder from Atlanta, Ga., was teamed with Georgia’s Todd Gurley as the first-team running backs.

The preseason All-SEC second team featured three Gamecocks, including a pair of offensive linemen in A.J. Cann, a 6-54, 311-pound senior left guard from Bamberg, S.C., and Corey Robinson, a 6-8, 344-pound senior left tackle from Havelock, N.C.

Sophomore return specialist Pharoh Cooper earned a spot as the return specialist on the second team and was also a third-team selection as an All-Purpose athlete. Cooper, a 5-11, 201-pounder from Havelock, N.C., was an All-SEC Freshman selection as both a return specialist and all-purpose back following the 2013 season.

Junior offensive tackle Brandon Shell, a 6-6, 333-pounder from Goose Creek, S.C., senior defensive tackle J.T. Surratt, a 6-2, 310-pounder from Winston-Salem, N.C., and senior defensive back Brison Williams, a 5-11, 208-pounder from Warner Robins, Ga., also earned third-team accolades.

This marked the 12th consecutive year of the SEC Coaches Preseason All-SEC Teams. Coaches were not permitted to vote for their own players.

The SEC begins its 2014 season on Thursday, August 28, when Texas A&M travels to Columbia to face the Gamecocks at a sold out Williams-Brice Stadium. Kick is set for 6 pm ET and will be televised nationally on the SEC Network.