Gamecocks Set to Host Mizzou on Saturday, Nov. 21

The South Carolina Gamecocks (2-5) return home to face the Missouri Tigers (2-3) on Saturday, Nov. 21. Game time is set for 7:30 pm ET from Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia. The contest will be televised on SEC Network Alternate.
 
OVER THE AIRWAVES: Mike Morgan will serve as the play-by-play voice for SEC Network Alternate with Hutson Mason providing the analysis. Alyssa Lang will work as the sideline reporter. The familiar voices of Gamecock Greats Todd Ellis and Tommy Suggs handle the call for the Gamecock Radio Network, with Jamar Nesbit on the sidelines.
 
A LITTLE HISTORY: 2020 marks the 127th season of intercollegiate football at the University of South Carolina, dating back to 1892. It is the 114th-consecutive year in which South Carolina has competed on the gridiron. The University did not field a team in either 1893 or 1906. Carolina owns an all-time record of 614-592-44 (.509).
 
IT JUST MEANS MORE: The 2020 season marks South Carolina’s 29th year in the Southeastern Conference. South Carolina and Arkansas joined the league prior to the 1992 campaign. The Gamecocks earned the SEC Eastern Division title in the 2010 season. The Gamecocks are 99-131-1 (.431) all-time in SEC regular-season play, but are 44-43 (.506) in conference action since the start of the 2010 season.
 
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY: The 2020 season marks the 10th anniversary of the 2010 squad that captured the SEC Eastern Division title and went on to appear in the SEC Championship game in Atlanta against eventual national champion Auburn. It’s the Gamecocks only division title since joining the Southeastern Conference.
 
CHANGE AT THE TOP: On Nov. 15, Athletics Director Ray Tanner informed Will Muschamp that he was being relieved of his head coaching duties. Offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Mike Bobo was named the interim head coach for the remainder of the season. Muschamp compiled a 28-30 mark in five seasons at Carolina and an overall mark of 56-51 in nine seasons as a head coach.
 
WHAT’S AT STAKE: It’s the annual battle for the Mayor’s Cup, as the two SEC schools that call Columbia home are set to play for the silver trophy, given to the winning team.
 
CAROLINA VS. MIZZOU: The all-time series between the Gamecocks and Tigers is tied at 5-5. South Carolina holds a a 3-1 lead at Williams-Brice Stadium, the teams have split four games evenly at Memorial Stadium/Faurot Field in Columbia, Mo., and Mizzou has a pair of neutral site bowl game wins versus Carolina.
 
AS LEAGUE OPPONENTS: Since Mizzou joined the SEC, the Gamecocks hold a 5-3 series advantage. South Carolina won the first two SEC Eastern Division battles between the two schools that claim Columbia as its home, posting a 31-10 win in the Palmetto State in 2012, then pulling out an improbable 27-24 double-overtime victory in Missouri in 2013. In 2014, the Tigers overcame a 13-point deficit in the final seven minutes to squeeze out a 21-20 victory at Williams-Brice Stadium, then won by a 24-10 count at Memorial Stadium in 2015. The Gamecocks then won three-straight games from 2016-18 by scores of 31-21, 31-13 and 37-35, respectively. The Tigers won a home game last season by a 34-14 count.
 
THE LAST TIME THEY MET: The Missouri defense scored twice en route to a 34-14 win in Columbia, Mo. on Sept. 21, 2019. Linebacker Cale Garrett recovered a fumble in the end zone for a touchdown and safety Ronell Perkins returned an interception 100 yards for another score. Mizzou outgained the Gamecocks, 421-271 on the day and held the ball for 37:50. Ryan Hilinski was just 13-for-30 for 166 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Carolina was able to muster just 16 rushing yards on 24 carries in the loss.
 
THE LAST TIME THEY MET HERE: Backup quarterback Michael Scarnecchia threw for three touchdowns in his first collegiate start and Parker White hit the game-winning 33-yard field goal with two seconds left in South Carolina’s 37-35 victory over Missouri on Oct. 6, 2018 in Columbia, S.C. The Tigers had gone ahead 35-34 on Tucker McCann’s career-long 57-yard field goal with 1:18 remaining. But the Gamecocks, behind Scarnecchia, drove to the Missouri 16 where White nailed his third go-ahead field goal of the game. The Gamecocks rallied from 23-14 at halftime to win their third straight over Missouri in a game that last more than five hours due to rain and lightning delays. Scarnecchia completed 20 of 35 passes for 249 yards. Missouri’s Drew Lock, the SEC leader at 320 yards passing a game coming in, was held to 204.
 
30 OR MORE: The Gamecocks have scored 30 or more points in five of the 10 meetings between the two schools, including exactly 31 points on four occasions. The 37 points scored by the Gamecocks in the 2018 game was the most by Carolina in the series, while the 72 points scored in that contest was the most in the series.
 
PUT ME IN COACH, I’M READY TO PLAY: Connor Shaw stepped into the role as the Gamecocks’ quarterback coach this week following the dismissal of Will Muschamp. The Tigers will no doubt be glad he remains on the sidelines, rather than entering the contest. Who can forget when the No. 20/20 Gamecocks rallied from 17 points down in the fourth quarter to shock No. 5/7 Missouri, 27-24 in double-overtime on October 26, 2013 at Memorial Stadium in Columbia, Mo.? Shaw, a senior quarterback, came off the bench in the third quarter to lead the comeback. Shaw connected on 20-of-29 passes for 201 yards. He hit Nick Jones with a 2-yard scoring pass with 42 seconds left in regulation to send the game into overtime, then found Bruce Ellington in the endzone on 4th-and-15 to force the game into a second overtime. Elliott Fry hit from 40-yards out to put Carolina on top before Andrew Baggett’s attempt from 24-yards away caromed off the left upright, sending the Gamecock sideline into a frenzy.
 
THE LAST TIME OUT: The Gamecocks traveled to Oxford, Miss. on Nov. 14 and came out on the short end of a wild 59-42 shootout with the Ole Miss Rebels. The Gamecocks logged a season-high 548 yards of offense, including 318 on the ground, but could not stop the Ole Miss attack, that recorded 708 total yards, including 513 through the air.
 
LIGHTING UP THE SCOREBOARD: The Gamecocks and Rebels combined for 101 points and 1,256 yards of offense. The 101 points scored is the second-most combined points in a Carolina game in school history, topped only by the 65-39 win at Mississippi State in 1995.
MOST POINTS COMBINED
  1.   104    at Mississippi State (65-39), Oct. 14, 1995
  2.  101    at Ole Miss (42-59), Nov. 14, 2020
  3.     98    vs East Carolina (42-56), Oct. 8, 1994
  4.     93    vs Troy (69-24), Nov. 20, 2010
          93    vs East Carolina (56-37), Sept. 3, 2011
 
RE-WRITING THE RECORD BOOKS: Kevin Harris had the best day of his brief career as a Gamecock at Ole Miss. The sophomore running back matched his career-high with 25 carries for a career-high 243 yards and a school record five touchdowns. He averaged 9.7 yards per carry. The 243 yards rushing is the fifth-highest single-game total in school history and the most against an SEC opponent. It was his fourth 100-yard rushing game this season and the fifth of his career.
SINGLE-GAME RUSHING YARDS
  1.  Brandon Bennett vs. East Tenn. St. (10/5/91). 278
  2.  Jeff Grantz vs. Ohio (10/20/73)…………………. 260
  3.  Steve Wadiak vs. Clemson (10/19/50)……….. 256
  4.  Marcus Lattimore vs. Navy (9/17/11)…………. 246
5.  Kevin Harris vs. Ole Miss (11/14/20)………. 243
  6.  George Rogers vs. Wake Forest (11/18/78)… 237
  7.  Rico Dowdle vs. Western Carolina (11/19/16) 226
  8.  George Rogers vs. Duke (10/11/80)…………… 224
  9.  George Rogers vs. NC State (11/3/79)………… 217
10. Derek Watson vs. E. Michigan (9/16/00)…….. 215
 
PUT IT IN THE END ZONE: Kevin Harris set a school record with five rushing touchdowns at Ole Miss. He scored from 46, 1, 1, 44 and 12 yards out. No other Gamecock has scored more than three rushing touchdowns in a game. Harris tied the school record for TDs and points scored in a game with 30, matching Sidney Rice against FAU in 2006.
POINTS SCORED/TOUCHDOWNS SCORED
   1.   Sidney Rice vs. Florida Atlantic (9/23/06)… 30/5
         Kevin Harris at Ole Miss (11/14/20)………… 30/5
   3.   Mike Dingle vs. Virginia Tech (9/22/90)…… 24/4
         Stanley Pritchett vs. Miss. St. (10/14/95)…. 24/4
 
SEEING RED: The Gamecocks have scored on 19 of 23 trips into the redzone, 82.6 percent, which ranks ninth in the SEC. More importantly, Carolina has scored touchdowns on 17 of its 23 trips (73.9 percent), which ranks second in the SEC behind only Florida (78.1) and just ahead of Texas A&M (73.1) and Alabama (72.7).
 
BUT NOT SEEING YELLOW: The Gamecocks are one of the least penalized teams in the country. Carolina has been flagged for just 31 penalties in seven games, an average of 4.4 per game, the fewest in the SEC and 14th in the country. The flags have accounted for just 38.1 yards per game, ranking first in the SEC and 11th in the nation.
 
SEC LEADERS: Several Gamecocks dot the SEC’s individual statistical leaders list:
Kevin Harris……………………………………. Rushing …………………….. 2nd (116.7)
Kevin Harris…………………………………….. Scoring ……………………….. 2nd (12.0)
Kevin Harris…………………………….. Scoring (TDs)…………………. 2nd (12.0)
Kevin Harris……………………………….. All-Purpose………………….. 6th (130.9)
Shi Smith……………………………… Receptions/Game…………….. 4th (7.6)
Shi Smith……………………….. Receiving Yards/Game……… 7th (85.1)
Parker White………………………….. Scoring (Kick)…………………… 6th (6.7)
Parker White……………………………… Field Goals…………………….. 7th (1.14)
Parker White…………………………. Field Goal Pct……………….. 10th (61.5)
Parker White……………………….. PAT Kicking Pct…………….. T1st (100.0)
Kai Kroeger………………………………. Punting Avg………………….. 10th (42.5)
Ernest Jones…………………………………… Tackles………………………….. 3rd (11.1)
Kingsley Enagbare………………………. Sacks……………………………… 1st (5.0)
Kingsley Enagbare…………. Tackles for Loss………………. T6th (6.0)
Kingsley Enagbare………… Fumbles Forced……………… 1st (0.43)
Keir Thomas……………………………………… Sacks………………………….. T10th (3.0)
Jaycee Horn………………………. Passes Defended…………….. 5th (1.14)
Jaycee Horn……………………………. Interceptions……………………. T8th (2)
Israel Mukuamu…………………. Interceptions……………………. T8th (2)
 
FIRST START: Eleven Gamecocks have made their first career starts this season, including four in the season opener against Tennessee. The quartet included Collin Hill (who made 11 starts at Colorado State), Dakereon Joyner, Kevin Harris and Shilo Sanders. Damani Staley made his first career start at Florida. Zacch Pickens and Vershon Lee both made their first career starts at Vanderbilt. Jazston Turnetine and Tonka Hemingway made their first starts against Auburn. Jaylen Foster made his first start against Texas A&M and Jaylen Brooks made his first start at Ole Miss.
 
NFL TIES: Shilo Sanders is the son of former NFL and MLB standout Deion Sanders, a member of both the College and Pro Football Hall of Fame. Damani Staley is the son of former Gamecock and NFL running back Duce Staley. Dylan Wonnum is the younger brother of former Gamecock, D.J. Wonnum, who is with the Minnesota Vikings. Nick Muse‘s older brother, Tanner, is a member of the Las Vegas Raiders. Freshman defensive end Tonka Hemingway is the younger brother of former Michigan standout and NFL wide receiver Junior Hemingway. Fabian Goodman is the son of former Gamecock Andre Goodman, who logged 10 seasons in the NFL. Elisha Brooks is the son of former Gamecock and NFL star Robert Brooks.
 
TOTING THE SHEEPSKIN: Thirteen Gamecock football players already have their diplomas in hand. Those who have earned undergraduate degrees include: Slade Carroll, Spencer Eason-Riddle, Jabari Ellis, Chandler Farrell, Jaylan Foster, Collin Hill, Sadarius Hutcherson, Christian Kinsley, Sean McGonigal, Adam Prentice, Keir Thomas, M.J. Webb and Parker White.
 
ACADEMICALLY SPEAKING: The Gamecocks placed 47 players on the 2019 SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll. Gamecock football student-athletes posted a combined 3.614 GPA in Spring 2020, the highest mark on record. The previous high was 3.084 in the spring of 2019. They fell just short of obtaining another combined GPA of 3.0 or better in the fall of 2019, coming in at 2.985, despite being in-season.
 
UP NEXT: The Gamecocks will try to make it two in a row over Georgia, when the Bulldogs make their way to Columbia on Saturday, Nov. 28. Carolina knocked off the third-ranked Dawgs by a 20-17 score in overtime in Athens in 2019. Georgia holds a 51-19-2 advantage in the all-time series, including a 21-10-2 lead when playing in Columbia, but the teams have split the last 10 games evenly.
 
*OFFENSE*
 
BOBO DIALS IT UP: Mike Bobo, who spent the past five years as the head coach at Colorado State, serves as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach in addition to his duties as interim head coach at South Carolina. Bobo is well-versed with the SEC, as he spent 14 years as an assistant at Georgia, his alma mater. A 2012 Broyles Award finalist, he has coached on five SEC East and two SEC championship teams.
 
THE NUMBERS ARE UP: Here’s a look at South Carolina’s offensive numbers in Mike Bobo’s first year as the coordinator, compared to 2019 (SEC/NCAA):
Category                          2019                 2020
Scoring Offense        22.4 (12/104)       27.3 (8/73)
Rushing Offense       149.7 (10/82)      169.3 (7/61)
Passing Offense         222.2 (7/74)      200.9 (12/90)
Total Offense            371.9 (11/96)     370.1 (10/83)
Passing Efficiency     111.1 (11/118)    117.8 (12/95)
3rd Down Pct.           32.1 (13/120)      38.3 (10/77)
 
QB1: Collin Hill, a graduate transfer who played for Mike Bobo at Colorado State, has been the Gamecocks’ quarterback through the first seven games and has taken virtually every meaningful snap thus far after earning the starting nod over sophomore incumbent Ryan Hilinski. The 6-4, 222-pounder appeared in 18 games including 11 starts at Colorado State while battling through three ACL injuries. While playing for the Rams, he completed 263-of-433 passes (60.7 pct.) for 3,323 yards with 23 touchdowns and 11 interceptions, including five career 300-yard passing games.
 
MORE ON HILL: Collin Hill logged a 3-8 record as a starter at CSU. He was 2-2 in four starts as a true freshman in 2016; was redshirted in 2017; was winless in four starts in 2018; and 1-2 in three starts in 2019. All three of his seasons ended prematurely with an ACL injury.
 
HILL AS GAMECOCK: Collin Hill, who grew up in Moore, S.C. and prepped at Dorman High School, is 2-5 as a starter for the Gamecocks, connecting on 121-of-205 passes (59.0 percent) for 1,372 yards with six touchdowns and six interceptions. He also has four rushing touchdowns. Hill made his first collegiate start in the Palmetto State in the season opener against Tennessee and responded with his best performance, a 25-for-39, 290-yard effort with one touchdown and one interception. He had another solid outing at Florida completing 28-of-47 passes for 212 yards with a pair of touchdowns and no interceptions. He notched his first win as a Gamecock at Vandy when he completed 16-of-24 passes for 196 yards, and scored two rushing touchdowns, the first Carolina QB to do that since Jake Bentley in 2017, and notched his second win in the upset of Auburn when he went 15-of-24 for 144 yards with a touchdown and an interception. He struggled in losses at LSU and to Texas A&M, going a combined 20-for-43 for 300 yards with one touchdown and three INTs, before bouncing back with a 17-for-26, 230-yard effort at Ole Miss.
 
READY AND WILLING: Sophomore Ryan Hilinski and true freshman Luke Doty have been competing for the back-up QB duties and are ready should their number be called.
  Hilinski was forced into a starting role in the second game of the 2019 season following a season-ending injury to starter Jake Bentley, and started the final 11 games of the campaign. He is 4-7 as a starting signal-caller. He set school freshmen records for pass completions and attempts in 2019, and set a school record with 180 consecutive passes without an interception. He has seen action in two games this season, appearing briefly at Vanderbilt, before completing 4-of-6 passes for 34 yards in the fourth quarter against Texas A&M.
  Doty, a highly-touted dual-threat QB, has seen limited action this season, playing both quarterback and wide receiver. He brings a different skill set to the offense than either Hill or Hilinski, with the ability to make plays with his legs. He has rushed five times this season for 18 yards and has thrown one pass, an incompletion against Texas A&M.
 
HOP ON THE BUS: The Gamecocks opened the season thinking a “running back by committee” approach would be implemented after losing highly-touted freshman running back MarShawn Lloyd, who suffered an ACL injury early in fall camp. However, true sophomore Kevin Harris quickly turned it into primarily a one-man show. Known by his teammates as “The Bus,” Harris has been the workhorse all season, and ranks second in the SEC and 12th in the country in rushing at 116.7 yards per game.
 
LOOKING FOR A GRAND: Sophomore Kevin Harris is looking to become the first Gamecock since Mike Davis in 2013 to rush for 1,000 yards in a season. Harris has 817 yards after seven contests. He has topped the 100-yard plateau in four games this season, going for 100 on 22 carries at Florida, a 21-carry, 171-yard performance at Vanderbilt, a 12-carry, 126-yard effort at LSU and a career-best 25-carry, 243-yard performance at Ole Miss. There have been just 10 1,000-yard rushing seasons in Carolina history. Here are the Gamecocks’ leading rushers in the last decade:
YEAR     PLAYER                     YARDS           AVG.
2011       Marcus Lattimore           818               5.0
2012       Marcus Lattimore           662               4.6
2013       Mike Davis                  1,183               5.8
2014       Mike Davis                     982               4.9
2015       Brandon Wilds               567               4.6
2016       Rico Dowdle                   764               5.7
2017       A.J. Turner                       531               5.4
2018       Rico Dowdle                   654               5.3
2019       Tavien Feaster                672               5.4
2020     Kevin Harris                  817              6.2
 
BETTER THAN AVERAGE: Sophomore Kevin Harris is averaging 116.7 yards rushing per game this season. That average currently ranks fifth on the all-time list for a single season in Carolina history:
No.  Player                      Year    Gms    Yards     Avg.
   1.   George Rogers        1980     12      1894    157.8
   2.   George Rogers        1979     12      1681    140.1
   3.   Duce Staley             1996      9       1116    124.0
   4.   Marcus Lattimore   2011      7        818      116.9
  5.   Kevin Harris           2020      7        817   116.7
   6.   George Rogers        1978     10      1006    100.6
   7.   Harold Green          1989     10       989        98.9
   8.   Mike Davis              2013     12      1183      98.6
   9.   Derek Watson        2000     11      1066      96.9
10.   Kevin Long              1975     12      1133      94.4
 
HE RUNS, HE SCORES: Kevin Harris leads the team with 13 rushing touchdowns and with 14 of the Gamecocks’ 24 touchdowns overall. Harris, who has scored in six of the seven games, ranks second in the SEC with 12.0 points per game. His 84 points scored is tied for 10th for a single season in school history while his 14 TDs is tied for fourth.
Points Scored – Season
   1.   Marcus Lattimore (2010)………………………… 114
   2.   Collin Mackie (1987)………………………………. 113
   3.   Elliott Fry (2014)……………………………………. 105
   4.   Spencer Lanning (2010)………………………….. 102
   5.   Elliott Fry (2013)……………………………………… 99
   6.   Harold Green (1987)………………………………… 96
   7.   Ryan Succop (2008)…………………………………. 90
   8.   Ryan Succop (2006)…………………………………. 85
         Elliott Fry (2015)……………………………………… 85
10.   George Rogers (1980)………………………………. 84
         Parker White (2018)…………………………………. 84
         Kevin Harris (2020)……………………………….. 84
Touchdowns Scored – Season
   1.   Marcus Lattimore (2010)………………………….. 19
   2.   Harold Green (1987)………………………………… 16
   3.   George Rogers (1980)………………………………. 14
         Kevin Harris (2020)……………………………….. 14
   5.   Sidney Rice (2005)…………………………………… 13
         Deebo Samuel (2018)………………………………. 13
 
THE  LONG RUN: Kevin Harris raced 88 yards to paydirt at Vandy. It matched the fourth-longest run from scrimmage in school history and is tied for the third-longest run in FBS play this season. Harris also has a 75-yard run in his career, accounting for two of the 17 runs of 75-yards or longer in school history. Harris and Mike Davis (2013) are the only Gamecocks with two 75+ yard runs.
Yds Player                    Opponent                     Date
96    Steve Wadiak       Geo. Washington    10/27/50
89    Ben Garnto           Wake Forest            10/15/65
89    Brandon Bennett East Tenn. State       10/05/91
88    Bobby Wallace     Middle Tennessee   11/18/06
88   Kevin Harris         Vanderbilt            10/10/20
 
NEXT MAN UP: Redshirt sophomore Deshaun Fenwick is the “veteran” in the running backs’ room. He is a bigger back who, over his first two seasons, logged a pair of 100-yard games despite playing in just seven games and carrying the pigskin in just four contests. He is second on the squad with 290 yards on 49 carries this season, and is averaging 5.9 yards per carry.
 
HE’S SHI, BUT KNOW HIS NAME: Senior wide receiver Shi Smith is the No. 1 receiver for the Gamecocks. He stepped up in the opener with a 10-catch, 140-yard performance against Tennessee and followed that up with a career-best 12 catches for 85 yards and a score at Florida. He caught eight passes versus Auburn, had seven receptions versus Texas A&M and had his third double-digit catch day with 10 receptions for 117 yards at Ole Miss. He is fourth in the SEC with 7.6 receptions per game and is seventh with 85.1 receiving yards per game. He has 170 career receptions for 2,167 yards. He is fourth on the school’s all-time list for receptions and is ninth on the school’s career receiving yards list.
Career Receiving Leaders (by Receptions)
No.   PLAYER                     YEARS      REC.     YDS
    1.     Bryan Edwards         2016-19     234    3,045
    2.     Kenny McKinley       2005-08     207    2,781
    3.     Alshon Jeffery          2009-11     183    3,042
    4.     Shi Smith                 2017-20    170  2,167
    5.     Sterling Sharpe         1983-87     169    2,497
    6.     Zola Davis                 1995-98     164    2,354
    7.     Robert Brooks          1988-91     156    2,211
    8.     Jermale Kelly            1997-00     153    2,181
    9.     Deebo Samuel         2014-18     148    2,076
  10.     Fred Zeigler              1967-69     146    1,876
Career Receiving Leaders (by Yards)
No.   PLAYER                          YEARS             Yds.
    1.     Bryan Edwards              2016-19          3,045
    2.     Alshon Jeffery               2009-11          3,042
    3.     Kenny McKinley           2005-08          2,781
    4.     Sterling Sharpe             1983-87          2,497
    5.     Zola Davis                     1995-98          2,354
   6.     Sidney Rice                   2005-06          2,233
   7.     Robert Brooks               1988-91          2,211
   8.     Jermale Kelly                1997-00          2,181
    9.     Shi Smith                     2017-20        2,167
   10.    Pharoh Cooper             2013-15          2,163
 
GETTING HIS SHARE: Shi Smith has been on the receiving end of 53 of the Gamecocks’ 125 pass receptions this season, 42.4 percent, for 596 of the 1,406 receiving yards, 42.4 percent. The other wide receivers have combined for 23 catches for 255 yards.
 
SHI LIGHTS – HAVE YOU SEEN HIM?: Senior wide receiver Shi Smith got off to a great start this season. In the season opener against Tennessee, the senior wide out caught 10 passes for 140 yards and a touchdown. It matched the second-best season opener for a Gamecock wide receiver and was the best effort in an opener since 1984. He followed that up with a career-best 12 receptions for 85 yards and a score at Florida. He became the first player in South Carolina history to record back-to-back games with double figures in pass receptions.
 
WELCOME ABOARD: Junior wide receiver Jalen Brooks gained his eligibility just before the LSU game. Brooks began his career at Division II Wingate College and had a cup of coffee at Tarleton State before joining the Gamecock program this fall. He had one catch for three yards in his Carolina debut at LSU and had three receptions for 47 yards at Ole Miss in his first career start.
 
THROW IT TO THE TIGHT END: Senior Nick Muse, the latest in a long line of standout Gamecock tight ends, is second on the team with 16 receptions for 227 yards, 14.2 yards per catch. Muse, who was named to the John Mackey Award watch list which recognizes the nation’s top tight end, joined the Gamecocks at the start of fall camp in 2019 following a transfer from William & Mary.
 
A TALE OF ONE CITY: Tight end Nick Muse has had the best of times and the worst of times in his two games against Vanderbilt. In 2019, Muse suffered a season-ending ACL injury against the Commodores. This year, the senior had his best game as a Gamecock, catching five passes for 85 yards.
 
IN THE TRENCHES: The Gamecocks have had some shuffling with their offensive line this season, but four players – Sadarius Hutcherson, Eric Douglas, Jovaughn Gwyn and Dylan Wonnum – have started every game.
 
HUTCH SETS THE TONE: Fifth-year senior Sadarius Hutcherson, a preseason all-league selection and a member of the Outland Trophy Watch List, leads the unit. He has returned to his more natural guard position after playing left tackle last season. He has made 36 career starts, most on the squad, including 33-consecutive starts. He was recognized as the SEC’s Offensive Lineman of the Week for his efforts at Vanderbilt when he graded out at 88 percent with seven knockdowns and no missed assignments.
 
THE CENTER OF ATTENTION: Junior Eric Douglas has earned the starting nod at center this season. The cerebral Douglas, who is on the Rimington Watch List, has appeared in 28 games with eight starts during his career.
 
ONLY THE STRONG SURVIVE: Redshirt sophomore Jovaughn Gwyn, who is considered one of the strongest players on the squad, starts at right guard. He has started 18-consecutive games.
 
YOU WONNUM, YOU GOT ‘EM: Dylan Wonnum, a Freshman All-American two years ago, returns to man a tackle position after being hampered by an ankle injury for much of the 2019 campaign. He started each of the first three games at left tackle, but returned to his more comfortable right tackle position for the last four games, his primary position over the past two years. A Freshman All-American in 2018, he is on the Wuerffel Trophy Watch List and a member of SAAC.
 
NEXT MAN UP: Redshirt freshman Jakai Moore earned the start in each of the first two contests at right tackle and returned to the starting lineup at left tackle at Ole Miss. He also started two games last season. Jazston Turnetine made three-consecutive midseason starts at left tackle. True freshman Vershon Lee made the start at right tackle at Vanderbilt. Sophomore tackle Jaylen Nichols and junior guard Jordan Rhodes have also been starters in their Carolina careers.
 
*DEFENSE*
 
KINGSLEY HAS BEEN DY-NO-MITE: Regarded as the Gamecocks’ top pass rusher, Kingsley “JJ” Enagbare has played well this season. In the opener against Tennessee, he recorded a career-high nine tackles, including a pair of sacks, and forced a fumble while making his debut at the BUCK position. He also notched sacks at Vanderbilt and versus Auburn. He is the SEC leader with 5.0 sacks and with three forced fumbles. His 6.0 tackles for loss ranks tied for sixth in the league.
 
NO DOUBTING THOMAS: Fifth-year senior Keir Thomas is putting together an excellent season. He is third on the team with 29 tackles, despite missing a game, and is second on the squad with 3.0 sacks, tying for 10th in the SEC. He has played primarily in the middle of the line this season, but kicked out to defensive end against Texas A&M.
 
THE FUTURE IS BRIGHT ON THE D-LINE: It’s difficult to make an impact on the defensive line as a younger player in the SEC, but the Gamecocks are blessed with three defensive linemen – Zacch Pickens, Jordan Burch and Tonka Hemingway –  who could become difference-makers for the Garnet & Black.
 
GLAD HE PICKED US: Sophomore Zacch Pickens is starting to live up to his billing, as he was rated the No. 1 defensive tackle in the country as a high school senior. He has started four of the last five contests and his numbers are on the rise. He has recorded 27 tackles this season, 19 over the last three games, including a career-high eight stops at Ole Miss.
 
BURCH COMING ON: Jordan Burch, a true freshman BUCK who is the second-highest ranked recruit to sign with Carolina behind only Jadeveon Clowney,  has been credited with 19 tackles, including 2.5 tackles for loss and a fumble recovery,
 
HEMINGWAY WRITING HIS OWN TICKET: True freshmen defensive end Tonka Hemingway has started two games while Aaron Sterling has been limited with a sore knee. Hemingway has nine tackles, including a tackle for loss, two pass breakups, a QB hurry and a forced fumble.
 
KEEPING UP WITH JONESES: Junior linebacker Ernest Jones is the vocal leader of the defense from the MIKE position. A preseason All-SEC selection, Jones leads the team with 78 tackles, 23 more than any other player on the squad, an average of 11.1 per game, third in the SEC and 11th in the country. He was the team leader in the season opener against Tennessee with 11 stops, matched his then-career high with 13 tackles at Vanderbilt, including a career-best 3.0 tackles for loss, then shattered his personal best with a 19-tackle effort at LSU, the most tackles by a Gamecock in a game since the 1987 season. He nearly matched that with 18 tackles at Ole Miss. He led the team in tackles as a sophomore with 97 stops, 20 more than anyone else on the squad. He ranked fourth in the SEC with 8.1 tackles per game a year ago.
 
ERNEST GOES TO BATON ROUGE: Junior linebacker Ernest Jones was a tackling machine at LSU, registering a career-high 19 tackles. It was the most tackles in a game for a Gamecock since Roy Hart logged 19 at Nebraska in 1987. One game prior to Hart’s feat, Brad Edwards notched 21 stops at Georgia. The 19 tackles matches the second-highest single-game total in FBS play this season. With his 18 tackles at Ole Miss, Jones owns two of the top nine individual tackling efforts this season.
 
HERE’S TO YOU, JAMMIE ROBINSON: Sophomore Jammie Robinson is one of the hardest hitters on the team. He is second on the team with 55 tackles, including 34 solo stops and three pass breakups. He was credited with a dozen tackles at LSU and 11 at Ole Miss. Robinson earned Freshman All-SEC and second-team Freshman All-America honors in 2019.
 
*SPECIAL TEAMS*
 
WHITE ON THE MONEY: Senior Parker White has hit on 8-of-13 field goals this season (8-of-11 from inside of 50) and has converted 53-of-76 field goals in his career, 69.7 pct., including 34-of-38 (89.5 pct.) from inside 40 yards. His 53 field goals made and 76 field goals attempted both rank third on the school’s all-time list. He also ranks third on the school’s all-time scoring list with 278 points. White owns a career long of 50 yards and has five fourth-quarter or OT game-winning field goals in his career, including one against Mizzou in 2018.
 
WELL THAT BITES: Parker White fell one shy of matching the school record for consecutive field goals made when his 53-yard attempt in the rainy conditions at Vandy missed wide left. The 53-yarder would have been a career long. He had connected on 14-straight prior to that miss, one shy of the school record of 15, set by Collin Mackie from 1987-88. He ranks tied for eighth among FBS active kickers with 53 career field goals made.
 
KICKING WITH KROEGER: True freshman Kai Kroeger has punted 25 times for a 42.5-yard average with six inside the 20, a long of 53 yards and just one touchback. After punting six times for 211 yards, a 35.2-yard average in his debut vs. Tennessee, he has punted 19 times for 851 yards, a 44.8-yard average.
 
SEC HONORS: Kai Kroeger was recognized as the SEC Special Teams Player of the Week for his performance against Auburn. He punted five times for a 48.4-yard average, including a career-best 53-yarder. Three of his punts were downed inside the 20, at the 2, 7 and 19-yard lines. He had a net punting average of 44.4 yards after entering the game with a net of 33.1 yards per punt this season.