Three Gamecocks Earn Postseason Accolades from Phil Steele

Dec. 18, 2014

Three University of South Carolina football players have been recognized for their play on the field by Phil Steele, it was announced today.

Senior offensive guard A.J. Cann was a first-team All-SEC and a second-team All-America selection according to Steele. Sophomore wide receiver Pharoh Cooper joined Cann on the first-team All-SEC squad, while sophomore placekicker Elliott Fry was a third-team All-SEC pick by Steele.

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.

Since the regular season ended, Cann has been named first-team All-America by Sporting News, ESPN.com and CBSSportsline.com, was a second-team All-American by Walter Camp, Associated Press, FWAA and Sports Illustrated, and was a third-team AA by College Sports Madness. In addition, he garnered first-team All-SEC honors from the coaches, ESPN.com, and College Sports Madness and was a second-team All-SEC choice by the AP.

Cooper, a 5-11, 201-pounder from Havelock, N.C., was third in the SEC in receptions (60), second in receiving yards (966), fourth in receptions per game (5.0) and 10th in all-purpose yards per game (103.5).

Cooper was a first-team All-SEC wide receiver according to AP and the coaches and was a first-team all-purpose back according to ESPN.com. In addition, he was a second-team all-purpose back by the AP and the coaches and was a second-team All-SEC wide receiver by College Sports Madness.

Fry, a 6-0, 165-pounder from Frisco, Texas, connected on 17-of-22 field goal attempts and all 48 of his extra point attempts, while leading the team with 99 points scored. He was a semifinalist for the Lou Groza Award, which honors the nation’s top placekicker. Fry was a second-team All-SEC selection by the league’s 14 coaches.