Six Gamecocks Named to Phil Steele’s 2024 Preseason All-SEC Teams

Six University of South Carolina football players were named to Phil Steele’s 2024 Preseason All-SEC Teams, it was announced today.

Long snapper Hunter Rogers was the Gamecocks’ lone first-team All-SEC selection, according to Steele. Rogers also earned a spot on the publication’s preseason second-team All-America squad. Running back Raheim “Rocket” Sanders, linebacker Debo Williams, safety Nick Emmanwori and punter Kai Kroeger headlined Steele’s second-team All-SEC unit, while defensive tackle Tonka Hemingway was placed on the fourth team unit.

Rogers, a 6-2, 203-pound redshirt senior from Columbia, S.C., has been the Gamecocks’ long snapper since taking over those duties midway through the 2021 season. He was a first-team All-SEC selection by the league’s coaches in 2023.

Sanders, a 6-2, 225-pound senior transfer from the University of Arkansas, was a first-team All-SEC pick by the AP following the 2022 season in which he rushed for 1,443 yards for the Razorbacks. The Rockledge Fla., product was limited to just six games last season due to injury.

Williams, a 6-1, 235-pound senior from Symrna, Del., earned first-team All-SEC honors in 2023 after leading the Gamecocks with 113 tackles, including 9.0 tackles for loss. The 2023 Joe Morrison Award winner as the MVP of the defense and a Rex Enright team captain, Williams’ 113 tackles ranked third in the SEC and were the most for a Gamecock since 2002.

Emmanwori, a 6-3, 218-pound junior from Irmo, S.C., was a Freshman All-American in 2022. He has logged 156 tackles in his two seasons for the Garnet & Black, starting 23 of the 24 games in which he has appeared.

Kroeger, a 6-4, 213-pound “super” senior returns for his fifth year as the Gamecocks’ punter. The Lake Forest, Ill., native earned All-America honors in 2022 and is averaging 43.9 yards per punt during his career, with 48 punts of 50 yards or more including three of 70-plus yards.

Hemingway, a 6-3, 295-pound “super” senior from Conway, S.C., has appeared in all 48 games over the past four seasons with 17 starts. A standout both on and off the field, Hemingway was presented with the Harold White GPA Award for the defense and with the Gamecock Toughness Award for the defense at the 2024 Garnet & Black Spring Game.

The Gamecocks open the 2024 season on Aug. 31 when they host the Old Dominion Monarchs in a 4:15 pm kick at Williams-Brice Stadium.

For ticket information, please click HERE