Three Gamecocks Earn Athlon Preseason Accolades

June 15, 2015

Three University of South Carolina football players have been recognized by Athlon magazine as preseason All-SEC honorees.

Junior wide receiver Pharoh Cooper earned a spot on both Athon’s preseason first-team All-SEC and All-America teams as an all-purpose performer. Cooper, a 5-11, 208-pounder from Havelock, N.C., garnered first-team All-SEC honors a year ago after finishing third in the conference in receptions with 69, and second in receiving yards with 1,136. A member of the 2014 SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll, Cooper looks to extend the Gamecocks’ streak of a first-team All-American to seven-consecutive years, following Eric Norwood (2009), Alshon Jeffery (2010), Melvin Ingram (2011), Jadevon Clowney (2012 and ’13), Kelcy Quarles (2013) and A.J. Cann (2014).

Junior linebacker Skai Moore was named to Athlon’s preseason third-team All-SEC unit. Moore, a 6-2, 218-pounder from Cooper City, Fla., has led Carolina in tackles in each of the last two years, becoming the first player to lead the team in back-to-back seasons since Emanuel Cook in 2007 and ’08. In 25 games including 13 starts, Moore has registered 149 tackles and seven interceptions.

Junior placekicker Elliott Fry also earned a spot on Athlon’s preseason third-team squad as a specialist. Fry, a 6-0, 158-pounder from Frisco, Texas, earned second-team All-SEC accolades from the SEC coaches a season ago after connecting on 18-of-25 field goal attempts and all 51 extra points to lead the team in scoring with 105 points. A candidate for the Groza Award as the nation’s top placekicker, Fry ranks fourth in school history in points scored with 204 and has converted a school record 99 consecutive PATs. He was a member of the 2014 SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll.

The Gamecocks will open the 2015 season against North Carolina in Charlotte on Thursday, September 3. Tickets to that contest are on sale now.