Gamecocks Wrap Up the Regular Season Saturday Night

The South Carolina Gamecocks (2-7) wrap up the 2020 regular season when they travel to Lexington, Ky. to face the Kentucky Wildcats (3-6) on Saturday, Dec. 5. Game time is set for 7:30 pm ET from Kroger Field. The contest will be televised on SEC Network.
 
OVER THE AIRWAVES: Tom Hart will serve as the play-by-play voice for SEC Network with Jordan Rodgers providing the analysis. Cole Cubelic will work as the sideline reporter for the Network. Todd Ellis works as the play-by-play voice, along with analyst Tommy Suggs and Jamar Nesbit for the Gamecock Radio Network.
 
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 614-594-44 (.508).
 
SEC, SEC: 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 99-133-1 (.427) all-time in SEC regular-season play.
 
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.
 
NOT MISSING A BEAT: If things go off without a hitch Saturday in Lexington, the Gamecocks will have played the entire 2020 season without interruption or changing any dates and/or opponents due to COVID-19.
 
CAROLINA VS. KENTUCKY: This is the 32nd meeting between the Gamecocks and Wildcats in a series that dates back to 1937. Carolina leads the all-time series 18-12-1, including a 9-7 advantage in Lexington. The teams played just three times (1937, 1978 and 1981) before Carolina joined the SEC in 1992. Since then, they have met every year. Since joining the SEC, the Gamecocks own a 17-11 record against UK, including wins in 14 of the 20 meetings in this century.
 
IT’S GETTING LATE: December 5 is the latest date the two teams have ever met on the gridiron. In fact, they had only played once as late as November previously, and that was in the first meeting back in 1937. Since then, all 30 meetings have come in either September (11 times) or October (19 times).
 
THE LAST TIME THEY MET: Tavien Feaster (107) and Rico Dowdle (102) combined for 209 rushing yards, nearly matching Kentucky’s entire offensive output of 212 yards, as the Gamecocks rolled to an easy 24-7 win in Columbia on Sept. 28, 2019. Feaster scored twice and Dowdle once as the Gamecocks rolled up 387 yards in the win. The Carolina defense pitched a shutout until Kentucky finally got on the board with just 2:32 left in the contest. The seven points was the fewest the Wildcats had scored against the Gamecocks since being held to three points in the 2011 contest. The Carolina win snapped a five-game losing streak in the all-time series.
 
THE LAST TIME THEY MET HERE: Benny Snell ran for 99 yards and one of Kentucky’s three-consecutive first-half touchdowns before the No. 17 Wildcats held on for a 24-10 win over South Carolina on Sept. 29, 2018, in Lexington, Ky. Kentucky scored on four-straight drives to take a 24-3 lead into intermission. The two teams were close in total yards (327-321 in favor of Kentucky) and first downs (20-19 in favor of Carolina) but four Gamecock turnovers proved to be the difference.
 
THE LAST WIN IN LEXINGTON: Carolina has dropped its last three contests in the Commonwealth, dating back to a 38-17 win in 2012. In that contest, the sixth-ranked Gamecocks erased a 10-point halftime deficit, scoring 31 second-half points. Marcus Lattimore carried 23 times for 120 yards in the win, while Connor Shaw completed 15-of-18 passes for 148 yards and two touchdowns and added 76 yards on the ground on 19 carries. After allowing 17 points and 173 yards in the first half, the Carolina defense pitched a shutout in the second half, limiting Kentucky to just 70 yards over the final 30 minutes. Since that win, Kentucky has posted home wins by scores of 45-38 in 2014, 17-10 in 2016 and 24-10 in 2018.
 
BLUE GRASS TIES: Gamecock assistant coach Kyle Krantz served as a graduate assistant on the Wildcat staff in 2011 and 2012.
 
GET OUT THE WINTER COAT: A 7:30 pm kick in Lexington in December could mean a chilly night, with a game time temperature predicted to be in the 30s. The Gamecocks have not kicked off a game with a temperature below 43 degrees since the Papajohns.com Bowl versus UConn, held Jan. 2, 2010 in Birmingham, Ala., when the thermometer read 27 degrees at kick for that afternoon contest.
 
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. To assist Coach Bobo in the quarterbacks room, Gamecock Great Connor Shaw moved from his role as Director – Player Development to an on-field role as the quarterbacks coach. Bobo is 0-2 since taking over the interim head coaching duties.
 
MOVING ON UP: With Mike Bobo moving down to coach on the field, Joe Cox will help direct the offense from the press box.
 
THE LAST TIME OUT: The No. 13/10 Georgia Bulldogs put up 21 first-quarter points and never looked back in a 45-16 win over South Carolina in the Gamecocks’ 2020 home finale last Saturday night. Georgia did most of the damage on the ground, rushing for 332 yards on 46 carries, a 7.2-yard average. True freshman Luke Doty made his first career start and responded by connecting on 18-of-22 passes for 190 yards with a touchdown and an interception. With Shi Smith sidelined, tight end Nick Muse stepped up with the best game of his career, an eight-catch, 131-yard, one-touchdown performance.
 
LUCKY NUMBER SEVEN: When he got the call against Georgia last week, Luke Doty became just the seventh true freshman to start at quarterback for the Gamecocks since joining the SEC. Steve Taneyhill (1992), Mikal Goodman (1999), Lorenzo Nuñez (2015), Brandon McIlwain (2016), Jake Bentley (2016) and Ryan Hilinski (2019) were the others. Here’s how they each did in their first career start:
Quarterback Opp.        W/L     C      A      I   Yds   TD
S. Taneyhill    Miss State  W      7     14     1   183      2
M. Goodman Ole Miss      L       8     15     0   147      0
L. Nuñez        UCF            W    12     22     0   184      2
B. McIlwain    ECU            W    16     28     0   195      0
J. Bentley       UMass        W    17     26     0   201      2
R. Hilinski       Chas. So.     W    24     30     1   282      2
L. Doty           Georgia       L     18     22     1   190      1
 
EIGHT MEN OUT: Due to injuries, opt-outs and positive COVID-19 tests, Carolina had eight defensive starters in the season opener against Tennessee who were not in the starting lineup last week against Georgia. Defensive lineman Jabari Ellis, linebacker Ernest Jones and defensive back Jammie Robinson were the only three to start both games, with Jones the only player to start in the same position in both contests.
               TENNESSEE (Gm. 1)    GEORGIA (Gm. 9)
DE          Aaron Sterling             Jabari Ellis
DT          Jabari Ellis                    Zacch Pickens
DT          Keir Thomas                M.J. Webb
BUCK     Kingsley Enagbare      Rodricus Fitten
LB           Ernest Jones                Ernest Jones
LB           Sherrod Greene           Damani Staley
NIK/LB   Jammie Robinson       Mohamed Kaba
CB          Jaycee Horn                 Cam Smith
S             R.J. Roderick                 Jaylan Foster
S             Shilo Sanders              Jammie Robinson
CB          Israel Mukuamu          John Dixon
 
SEEING RED: The Gamecocks have scored on 23 of 27 trips into the redzone, 85.2 percent, which ranks seventh in the SEC. More importantly, Carolina has scored touchdowns on 20 of its 27 trips (74.1 percent), which ranks second in the SEC behind only Alabama (76.2).
 
SEC LEADERS: Several Gamecocks dot the SEC’s individual statistical leaders list:
Kevin Harris……………………………………. Rushing ……………………… 3rd (103.1)
Kevin Harris…………………………………….. Scoring ………………………… 4th (10.0)
Kevin Harris…………………………….. Scoring (TDs)………………….. 3rd (10.0)
Kevin Harris……………………………….. All-Purpose………………… 10th (118.9)
Shi Smith……………………………… Receptions/Game…………….. 4th (6.8)
Shi Smith……………………….. Receiving Yards/Game……… 7th (75.6)
Parker White………………………….. Scoring (Kick)…………………… 9th (6.1)
Parker White……………………………… Field Goals…………………….. 6th (1.11)
Parker White…………………………. Field Goal Pct……………….. 10th (62.5)
Kai Kroeger………………………………. Punting Avg……………………. 7th (43.3)
Ernest Jones…………………………………… Tackles……………………………. 7th (9.6)
Kingsley Enagbare………………………. Sacks……………………………… 1st (6.0)
Kingsley Enagbare…………. Tackles for Loss………………. T9th (7.0)
Kingsley Enagbare………… Fumbles Forced………………….. 1st (3)
 
FIRST START: Sixteen Gamecocks have made their first career starts this season, including four in the season opener against Tennessee: 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. Mohamed Kaba and Cam Smith all made their first career starts against Missouri. Luke Doty, Rodricus Fitten and M.J. Webb all made their first start against Georgia.
 
FRESH FISH: The Gamecocks have played 18 true freshmen this season with four – Luke Doty, Tonka Hemingway, Mohamed Kaba and Vershon Lee – making starts.
 
OPTING OUT: Carolina has had seven players opt out this year. Three players –  wide receivers Randrecous Davis and OrTre Smith, along with  offensive lineman Mark Fox – opted out before the season began. Four additional players – defensive backs Jaycee Horn, Israel Mukuamu and R.J. Roderick, along with defensive lineman Makius Scott, opted out after the head coaching change.
 
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.
 
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.
 
 
*OFFENSE*
 
 
COOL HAND LUKE: True freshman Luke Doty a highly-touted dual-threat quarterback, saw limited action this season before taking the reins in the second half against Missouri. Bringing a different skill set to the offense than either Collin Hill or Ryan Hilinski, with the ability to make plays with his legs, Doty completed 14-of-23 passes for 130 yards with an interception against the Tigers. He also was the Gamecocks’ leading rusher with 11 carries for a team-high 59 yards, including a long of 17. He became the first quarterback to lead the team in rushing since Lorenzo Nunez had 75 yards against Clemson in the 2015 season finale.
 
LUKE – I AM YOUR STARTER: Luke Doty made his first career start last week against Georgia. He responded by completing 18-of-22 passes for 190 yards with a touchdown and an interception. He also rushed 15 times with a long of nine yards. His first touchdown pass was a 7-yarder to Nick Muse, capping an 11-play, 98-yard drive.
 
THE COLLIN HILL SHOW: Collin Hill, a graduate transfer who played for Mike Bobo at Colorado State, was the Gamecocks’ quarterback through the first eight games and, until the second half of the Missouri game, had taken virtually every meaningful snap 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.
 
KING OF THE 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 2-6 as a starter for the Gamecocks, connecting on 127-of-215 passes (59.1 percent) for 1,411 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 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.
 
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 third in the SEC and 22nd in the country in rushing at 103.1 yards per game.
 
LOOKING FOR A GRAND: The 1,000-yard rushing  plateau has been reached just 10 times in school history, and sophomore Kevin Harris is looking to add his named to the list and become the first Gamecock since Mike Davis in 2013 to accomplish that feat. Harris has 928 yards with just the Kentucky game remaining. 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. Here are the Gamecocks’ single-season 1,000-yard rushers:
Rushing Yards – Season
  1.  George Rogers (1980)……………………………. 1,894
  2.  George Rogers (1979)……………………………. 1,681
  3.  Marcus Lattimore (2010)……………………….. 1,197
  4.  Mike Davis (2013)…………………………………. 1,183
  5.  Kevin Long (1975)…………………………………. 1,133
  6.  Duce Staley (1996)……………………………….. 1,116
  7.  Clarence Williams (1975)……………………….. 1,073
  8.  Derek Watson (2000)……………………………. 1,066
  9.  Harold Green (1987)……………………………… 1,022
10. George Rogers (1978)……………………………. 1,006
————————————————————————–
      Kevin Harris (2020)……………………………….. 928
 
BETTER THAN AVERAGE: Sophomore Kevin Harris is averaging 103.1 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      9        928   103.1
   6.   George Rogers        1978     10      1006    100.6
 
A TOUCHDOWN MACHINE: Kevin Harris leads the team with 14 rushing touchdowns and with 15 of the Gamecocks’ 27 touchdowns overall. Harris ranks fourth in the SEC with 10.0 points per game. His 90 points scored is tied for seventh for a single season in school history while his 15 TDs is third. His 14 rushing touchdowns also ranks tied for third with George Rogers. His 14 rushing touchdowns and his 15 touchdowns overall both rank second in the SEC and fifth in the country.
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
         Kevin Harris (2020)……………………………….. 90
   9.   Ryan Succop (2006)…………………………………. 85
         Elliott Fry (2015)……………………………………… 85
 
Touchdowns Scored – Season
   1.   Marcus Lattimore (2010)………………………….. 19
   2.   Harold Green (1987)………………………………… 16
  3.   Kevin Harris (2020)……………………………….. 15
   4.   George Rogers (1980)………………………………. 14
 
Rushing Touchdowns – Season
  1.  Marcus Lattimore (2010)……………………………. 17
  2.  Harold Green (1987)………………………………….. 15
  3.  George Rogers (1980)………………………………… 14
      Kevin Harris (2020)…………………………………. 14
 
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
 
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, the most against an SEC opponent and the fourth-highest single game total in FBS play this year. 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
 
WHERE NO MAN HAS GONE BEFORE: 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
 
WHO’S GOT NEXT?: Redshirt sophomore Deshaun Fenwick is the “veteran” in the running backs’ room. He is second on the squad with 297 yards on 54 carries this season, and is averaging 5.5 yards per carry. With Fenwick sidelined last week, true freshman Rashad Amos got his first extended action, carrying six times for 39 yards, including a 34-yard burst against Georgia. ZaQuandre White, who has worked on both sides of the ball of late, also logged five carries against the Bulldogs and has 16 carries on the season.
 
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 was injured in the first series against Missouri and did not return after just one catch for nine yards and sat out last week’s game against Georgia. He is fourth in the SEC with 6.8 receptions per game and is seventh with 75.6 receiving yards per game. He has 171 career receptions for 2,176 yards. He ranks fourth on the school’s all-time list for receptions, 12th among active players,  and is ninth on the school’s career receiving yards list, 21st among active players.
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    171  2,176
    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        2,176
   10.    Pharoh Cooper             2013-15          2,163
 
GETTING HIS SHARE: Shi Smith, who has accepted an invitation to the Reese’s Senior Bowl, has been on the receiving end of 54 passes this season for 605 yards. The other wide receivers have combined for 35 catches for 346 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.
 
BROOKS WAS HERE: 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, had three receptions for 47 yards at Ole Miss in his first career start, three catches for 25 yards against Mizzou and three catches for 14 yards against Georgia. He has 10 catches for 89 yards on the season, second among the wideouts.
 
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 30 receptions for 425 yards, 14.2 yards per catch. He has become the go-to guy since Shi Smith went out against Missouri, catching six passes for 67 yards against the Tigers, then following that up with a personal-best eight-catch, 131-yard effort against Georgia, including his first touchdown as a Gamecock. 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 GENERATIONAL PERFORMANCE: Nick Muse caught eight passes for 131 yards last week against Georgia. It was the most catches for a Gamecock tight end since Hayden Hurst had eight receptions against Mississippi State in 2016, and the most yards for Gamecock tight end since Danny Smith had 134 yards on just five catches against Appalachian State in 1985.
 
IN THE TRENCHES: The Gamecocks have seen 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 offensive line. He has returned to his more natural guard position after playing left tackle last season. He has made 38 career starts, most on the squad, including 35 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 30 games with 10 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 20 consecutive games.
 
YOU WONNUM, YOU GOT ‘EM: Dylan Wonnum, a Freshman All-American two years ago, mans 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 six 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.
 
OTHERS IN THE MIX: Redshirt freshman Jakai Moore earned the start in each of the first two contests at right tackle and has returned to the starting lineup at left tackle in each of the last three games. 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 Jordan Rhodes have also been starters in their Carolina careers, although Rhodes recently moved to add depth to the defensive line.
 
 
*DEFENSE*
 
 
KINGSLEY HAS BEEN DY-NO-MITE: Regarded as the Gamecocks’ top pass rusher, Kingsley “JJ” Enagbare is the SEC leader with 6.0 sacks and with three forced fumbles. His 7.0 tackles for loss ranks tied for ninth in the league. 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.
 
NO DOUBTING THOMAS: Fifth-year senior Keir Thomas is putting together an excellent season. He is fifth on the team with 32 tackles, despite missing two games, and is second on the squad with 3.0 sacks and with 5.5 tackles for loss. He began the season in the middle of the line, but has moved to defensive end.
 
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 six of the last seven contests and his numbers are on the rise. He has recorded 30 tackles this season, 22 over the last five games, including a career-high eight stops at Ole Miss. He notched his first career sack last week against Georgia.
 
HEMINGWAY WRITING HIS OWN TICKET: True freshmen defensive end Tonka Hemingway has started two games this season. he has 12 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 86 tackles, 16 more than any other player on the squad, an average of 9.6 per game, fifth in the SEC. 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 was named one of 16 semifinalists for the Butkus Award.
 
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 match the second-highest single-game total in FBS play this season. With his 18 tackles at Ole Miss, Jones owns two of the top 12 individual tackling efforts this season.
 
JONESIN’ FOR A TACKLE: Ernest Jones has logged 199 career tackles in 26 career contests. That ranks ninth in the country among active players with an average of 7.65 tackles per game.
 
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 70 tackles, including 44 solo stops and four pass breakups. He was credited with a dozen tackles at LSU, 11 at Ole Miss and 10 versus Georgia. 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 10-of-16 field goals this season (10-of-13 from inside of 50) and has converted 55-of-79 field goals in his career, 69.6 pct., including 35-of-39 (89.7 pct.) from inside 40 yards. His 55 field goals made and 79 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 286 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 55 career field goals made.
 
KICKING WITH KAI: True freshman Kai Kroeger has a 43.3-yard average with seven inside the 20, seven of 50-plus yards including a long of 53 yards and just two touchbacks. After punting six times for 211 yards, a 35.2-yard average in his debut vs. Tennessee, he has punted 30 times for 1,348 yards, a 44.9-yard average. He was named the SEC Special Teams Player of the Week for his performance against Auburn.