Dec. 9, 2014

COLUMBIA, S.C. – University of South Carolina senior offensive lineman A.J. Cann and sophomore wide receiver Pharoh Cooper earned first-team All-SEC recognition, according to the league’s 14 coaches, while Cooper, garnering distinction as an all-purpose back, joined sophomore placekicker Elliott Fry on the coaches’ All-SEC second team, which was announced on Tuesday.

Cann, a 6-4, 311-pounder from Bamberg, S.C., has been a four-year starter at guard for the Gamecocks. He has started 50 of the 51 games over the past four seasons, the second-most starts in Carolina history. A two-time captain, Cann helped lead a team that averaged over 33 points and 450 yards per game. He earned second team All-SEC accolades from the Associated Press on Monday.

Cooper, a 5-11, 201-pounder from Havelock, N.C., was the Gamecocks’ top pass catcher with 60 receptions for 966 yards and eight touchdowns. He also rushed 24 times for 198 yards and two scores, completed 5-of-8 passes for 78 yards and two touchdowns, and returned 14 punts for 78 yards. His best game came against Tennessee when he caught a career-high 11 passes for a school record 233 yards and two scores, rushed three times for 23 yards and a touchdown, and threw a 30-yard touchdown pass. Cooper also earned two spots on the AP’s All-SEC squad announced Monday, earning first team honors as a wide receiver and second-team recognition as an all-purpose back.

Fry, a 6-0, 165-pound sophomore from Frisco, Texas, was one of 20 semifinalists for the Lou Groza Award, which recognizes the nation’s top placekickers. Fry was 17-for-22 in field goal attempts in 2014 and is 32-of-40 in his career. He has connected on a school-record 96 consecutive extra points. He tallied 99 points this season, tying his mark of last year for the fourth-highest single-season points scored in school history.

FIRST TEAM

Offense
TE Evan Engram, Ole Miss
OL Cedric Ogbuehi, Texas A&M
OL La’el Collins, LSU
OL Arie Kouandjio, Alabama
OL A.J. Cann, South Carolina
C Reese Dismukes, Auburn
WR Amari Cooper, Alabama
WR Pharoh Cooper, South Carolina
QB Dak Prescott, Mississippi State
RB Nick Chubb, Georgia
RB Cameron Artis-Payne, Auburn
AP Marcus Murphy, Missouri

Defense
DL Shane Ray, Missouri
DL Preston Smith, Mississippi State
DL Dante Fowler, Florida
DL Bud Dupree, Kentucky
LB Benardrick McKinney, Mississippi State
LB Martrell Spaight, Arkansas
LB Trey DePriest, Alabama
DB Landon Collins, Alabama
DB Senquez Golson, Ole Miss
DB Vernon Hargreaves, Florida
DB Cody Prewitt, Ole Miss

Special Teams
PK Austin MacGinnis, Kentucky
P JK Scott, Alabama
RS Marcus Murphy, Missouri

SECOND TEAM

Offense
TE Hunter Henry, Arkansas
OL Laremy Tunsil, Ole Miss
OL Ben Beckwith, Mississippi State
OL Vadal Alexander, LSU
OL Mitch Morse, Missouri
C Max Garcia, Florida
WR Bud Sasser, Missouri
WR Sammie Coates, Auburn
QB Blake Sims, Alabama
RB Josh Robinson, Mississippi State
RB T.J. Yeldon, Alabama
AP Pharoh Cooper, South Carolina

Defense
DL Myles Garrett, Texas A&M
DL Trey Flowers, Arkansas
DL Derek Barnett, Tennessee
DL Markus Golden, Missouri
LB Amarlo Herrera, Georgia
LB Ramik Wilson, Georgia
LB Antonio Morrison, Florida
DB Jonathan Jones, Auburn
DB Braylon Webb, Missouri
DB Damian Swann, Georgia
DB Jonathon Mincy, Auburn

Special Teams
PK Elliott Fry, South Carolina
P Jamie Keehn, LSU
RS Quan Bray, Auburn