Gamecock Football Recap

2021 SOUTH CAROLINA FOOTBALL – FINAL SEASON NOTES
 
TEAM

• The Gamecocks finished the season with a 7-6 record overall, 3-5 in the SEC. The seven wins was their high mark since winning seven games in the 2018 season.
• The seven wins surpassed the Gamecocks’ win total of the two previous seasons combined (6).
• The Gamecocks posted a 38-21 win over North Carolina in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl. It was the 10th bowl win in school history and their first since defeating Michigan in the 2018 Outback Bowl.
• The Gamecocks are 10-6 in their last 16 bowl games.
• The Gamecocks posted five come-from-behind wins.
• The Gamecocks twice rallied from 14-point deficits (East Carolina and Auburn), matching the seventh-best comeback wins in school history and the first time they’ve come back from two-touchdown deficits to claim victory twice in the same season.
• The Gamecocks had 40 players make starts during the season. Eight players (Eric Douglas, Jovaughn Gwyn, Nick Muse, Jabari Ellis, Jaylan Foster, Brad Johnson, Zacch Pickens and Aaron Sterling) started all 13 games.
• The Gamecocks won four of their five non-conference games and have a 36-12 mark in their last 48 non-conference contests.
• The Gamecocks won three games (Florida, Auburn and North Carolina) in which they were more than a touchdown underdog.
• The Gamecocks scored the winning points twice in the final minute (East Carolina and Vanderbilt).
• Twenty-five Gamecocks wore SEC Graduate patches in the bowl game.

 
HEAD COACH SHANE BEAMER

• Shane Beamer was one of three finalists for the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) Steve Spurrier First-Year Coach of the Year Award.
• Coach Beamer became just the second coach in school history to lead his team to a bowl victory in his first season, joining Brad Scott (1994).
• Coach Beamer’s seven wins in his first season at South Carolina matched the high mark for any first-year head football coach in school history.
• In the history of the SEC, 64 coaches started their head coaching career in the league. Coach Beamer’s 3.5-game improvement (2-8 to 7-6), is tied for the fourth-best improvement in year one.
• Of those coaches beginning their head coaching career at the FBS level in 2021, Coach Beamer’s 3.5-game improvement is the best.
• Of all first-year head coaches at their current schools in 2021, Coach Beamer’s 3.5-game improvement was the second-largest, behind Utah State’s Blake Anderson.
• Coach Beamer is now 2-0 as a head coach in bowl games. In addition to the 2021 win over North Carolina in Duke’s Mayo Bowl, he was the acting head coach at Virginia Tech in the Hokies’ 2014 Military Bowl win over Cincinnati.

 
OFFENSE

• The Gamecocks had four different starting quarterbacks post a win during the 2021 season (Zeb Noland, Luke Doty, Jason Brown and Dakereon Joyner). Research indicates the 2014 Utah State team is the only other squad that can boast that accomplishment.
• The Gamecocks outscored their opponents by an 80-43 margin in the fourth quarter.
• The Gamecocks had 543 yards of total offense in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl win over North Carolina, which set a season high and a Carolina bowl game high.
• Kevin Harris led the team with 659 rushing yards and finished his career with 1,976 rushing yards, 18th on the school’s all-time list.
• Kevin Harris had four rushing touchdowns in 2021, giving him 23 for his career, tying for seventh on the school’s all-time list.
• ZaQuandre White averaged 6.6-yards per carry (88 carries for 583 yards), tying for the third-best single-season rushing average in school history.
• Josh Vann led the team with 43 receptions for 679 yards, including three 100-yard receiving games. He has 90 career receptions, tying for 25th in school history.
• The Gamecocks had eight different starters combine for six different starting lineups along the offensive line. All eight are eligible to return in 2022.

 
DEFENSE

• The Carolina defense allowed 24.0 points per game, ranking 46th in the nation, with six of its 13 opponents scoring 17 points or less. That was following a 2020 season in which they allowed 36.0 points per game and ranked 105th in scoring defense.
• The Gamecocks forced a turnover in 11 of 13 games, and two or more turnovers in eight games, including a season-high four against Troy.
• The Gamecocks forced 24 turnovers – 15 interceptions and nine fumble recoveries. They ranked first in the SEC and tied for 14th in the country in turnovers gained.
• The 15 interceptions tied for second in the SEC lead and tied for 14th in the country.
• The nine fumble recoveries tied for the SEC lead and tied for 25th in the nation.
• The Gamecock defense scored four times – three pick-sixes and a scoop-and score. The four defensive touchdowns tied for the SEC lead and tied for seventh in the nation.
• The Gamecocks surrendered 180.8 yards per game through the air, the fewest since 2011. They ranked first in the SEC and seventh in the nation in passing yards allowed per game.
• Jaylan Foster led the team with 96 tackles and with five interceptions. His five interceptions tied for fourth in the country.
• Cam Smith defended 14 passes (3 interceptions and 11 breakups). His 1.3 passes defended per game ranked second in the SEC and ninth in the country.
• Kingsley Enagbare finished his career with 15.0 career sacks, tying for ninth on the school’s all-time list.

 
SPECIAL TEAMS

• The Gamecocks blocked four kicks (three punts and a field goal), tied for second in the SEC and tied for 10th in the country.
• The last time Carolina blocked four or more kicks in a season came in 2014.
• The three blocked punts tied for the SEC lead, tied for seventh in the nation and are the most since blocking three in 2000.
• The Gamecocks did not surrender a blocked kick. The last time that occurred was in 2017.
• South Carolina averaged 24.0 yards per kick return, the school’s second-best mark since joining the SEC in 1992 (25.8 in 2016).
• South Carolina’s kickoff return defense allowed just 18.2-yards per return, the school’s best mark since 1998 (16.1) and the third-best mark since joining the SEC in 1992 (15.6 in 1997).
• Parker White became the school’s all-time leader in career points scored with 368, surpassing the previous mark of 359, held by Elliott Fry.
• Parker White ended his career tied with Collin Mackie for the most field goals made with 72. The 72 field goals made ranks third among active players.
• Parker White missed just one kick all season, converting 16-of-17 field goal attempts and all 30 extra point tries. His .941 field goal percentage ranked first in the SEC, fifth in the country and second in school history.
• Parker White booted a 54-yard field goal against Kentucky, tying for the fourth-longest field goal in school history.
• Parker White became the school’s all-time leader in games played with 60. He played in a school-record 59-consecutive games until the final game of the regular season.
• Kai Kroeger boomed a pair of punts 70-or-more yards. Since 1984, South Carolina punters have combined for five punts that have traveled 70-or-more yards.
• Kai Kroeger tossed a 44-yard touchdown pass on a fake punt at Tennessee and also passed for a two-point conversion against North Carolina.

 
INDIVIDUAL AWARDS
 
ALL-AMERICA/ALL-SEC
Jaheim Bell…………………… Tight End……………………………. Second Team All-SEC (PFF)
Spencer Eason-Riddle……. Linebacker………………………….. SEC Community Service Team
Kingsley Enagbare…………. EDGE…………………………………. Third-Team All-America (PFF)
Kingsley Enagbare…………. Defensive Line…………………….. First Team All-SEC (PFF)
Kingsley Enagbare…………. Defensive End…………………….. Second Team All-SEC (Phil Steele)
Jaylan Foster………………… Defensive Back……………………. Second Team All-America (Walter Camp)
Jaylan Foster………………… Defensive Back……………………. Third Team All-America (Phil Steele)
Jaylan Foster………………… Defensive Back……………………. First Team All-SEC (AP)
Jaylan Foster………………… Defensive Back……………………. First Team All-SEC (Coaches)
Jaylan Foster………………… Defensive Back……………………. First Team All-SEC (USA TODAY)
Jaylan Foster………………… Safety………………………………… First Team All-SEC (Phil Steele)
Alex Huntley…………………. Defensive Line…………………….. Freshman All-SEC (Coaches)
Juju McDowell………………. Kick Returner………………………. Fourth Team All-SEC (Phil Steele)
Juju McDowell………………. All-Purpose…………………………. Freshman All-SEC (Coaches)
Juju McDowell………………. Return Specialist…………………. Freshman All-SEC (Coaches)
Cam Smith……………………. Cornerback…………………………. Honorable Mention All-America (PFF)
Cam Smith……………………. Defensive Back……………………. Second Team All-SEC (AP)
Cam Smith……………………. Defensive Back……………………. Second Team All-SEC (PFF)
Cam Smith……………………. Cornerback…………………………. Fourth Team All-SEC (Phil Stele)
Josh Vann…………………….. Wide Receiver…………………….. Fourth Team All-SEC (Phil Steele)
Josh Vann…………………….. Wide Receiver…………………….. Honorable Mention All-SEC (PFF)
Parker White………………… Placekicker…………………………. Honorable Mention All-America (Phil Steele)
Parker White………………… Placekicker…………………………. Second Team All-SEC (Phil Steele)
Parker White………………… Placekicker…………………………. Third Team All-SEC (PFF)
Tyshawn Wannamaker….. Offensive Line…………………….. Freshman All-SEC (Coaches)
 
COACHES’ CHOICE AWARDS
Dr. Harris Pastides Outstanding Student-Athlete Award…. Parker White
Community Service Award………………………………………….. Jaylin Dickerson and Spencer Eason-Riddle
Strength & Conditioning Award…………………………………… Jaylan Foster, Jovaughn Gwyn and Damani Staley
Overcoming Adversity Award………………………………………. Carlins Platel, R.J. Roderick,
                                                                                              Aaron Sterling and ZaQuandre White
Offensive Scout Team Award………………………………………. Colin Henrich & Patrick Reedy
Defensive Scout Team Award……………………………………… Sean McGonigal
Special Teams Scout Team Award………………………………… King-Demenian Ford
Nutrition Award…………………………………………………………. Kingsley Enagbare, Jordan Strachan
                                                                                              and Dylan Wonnum
PLAYERS’ CHOICE AWARDS
Most Outstanding Senior Award………………………………….. Jaylan Foster & Nick Muse
Most Inspirational Walk-On………………………………………… Jaylan Foster
Above All Else Award………………………………………………….. Spencer Eason-Riddle and Zeb Noland
Steve Spurrier Award (MVP Offense)…………………………… Josh Vann
Joe Morrison Award (MVP Defense)…………………………….. Kingsley Enagbare and Jaylan Foster
Jim Carlen Award (MVP Special Teams)……………………….. Parker White
Steve Wadiak Team MVP Award………………………………….. Kingsley Enagbare and Jaylan Foster
Rex Enright Captains’ Award (Permanent Captains)……….. Jabari Ellis, Kingsley Enagbare, Jaylan Foster,
                                                                                              Jovaughn Gwyn, Parker White
 
IN-SEASON AWARDS
Debo Williams ……………… Co-SEC Freshman of the Week……………….      vs Eastern Illinois (Sept. 4)
Parker White    ……………… Co-SEC Special Teams Player of the Week.      at East Carolina (Sept. 11)
Kai Kroeger       ……………… Ray Guy Award “Ray’s 8″……………………….      vs Kentucky (Sept. 25)
Kai Kroeger       ……………… SEC Special Teams Player of the Week…….      vs Vanderbilt (Oct. 16)
Kai Kroeger       ……………… Ray Guy Award National Punter of the Week  vs Vanderbilt (Oct. 16)
Parker White    ……………… SEC Co-Special Teams Player of the Week.      vs Florida (Nov. 6)
Jovaughn Gwyn…………….. SEC Co-Offensive Player of the Week………      vs Auburn (Nov. 20)
Trai Jones         ……………… SEC Freshman of the Week…………………….      vs Auburn (Nov. 20)
Dakereon Joyner……………. Duke’s Mayo Bowl MVP…………………………      vs North Carolina (Dec. 30)
Dakereon Joyner……………. A.P. All-Bowl Team………………………………..      vs North Carolina (Dec. 30)
Jaheim Bell      ……………… A.P. All-Bowl Team………………………………..      vs North Carolina (Dec. 30)
Jaylan Foster    ……………… Sporting News Midseason All-America Team
Jaylan Foster    ……………… Jim Thorpe Award Semifinalist
Kingsley Enagbare…………. Chuck Bednarik Award Semifinalist
Spencer Eason-Riddle……. Campbell Trophy Semifinalist
 
LOOKING AHEAD

• The Gamecocks are scheduled to begin 2022 spring practice on Tuesday, March 15.
• The annual Pro Timing Day is set for Friday, March 18.
• The annual Garnet & Black Spring Game is scheduled for Saturday, April 16.
• The Gamecocks will open the 2022 season on Saturday, Sept. 3 versus Georgia State.
• Nine “Super Seniors” used up their eligibility, including Spencer Eason-Riddle, Jabari Ellis, Jaylan Foster, Nick Muse, Carlins Platel, Zeb Noland, Damani Staley, Aaron Sterling and Parker White.
• Three players – Kingsley Enagbare, Kevin Harris and ZaQuandre White – elected to forego their remaining eligibility and declare for the NFL Draft.
• The Gamecocks signed 21 high school players during the early signing period.
• Dennis Dodd of CBSSports.com ranks the Gamecocks’ 22nd in his “way-to-early” Top-25 for 2022.
• Mark Schlabach of ESPN.com ranks the Gamecocks’ 25th in his “way-to-early” Top-25 for 2022.