Gamecocks and LSU Tigers Set for Noon Kick Saturday

The South Carolina Gamecocks (2-0, 1-0 SEC) return to Williams-Brice Stadium (77,559) on Saturday, Sept. 14, to open the home portion of their 2024 SEC schedule when they host the LSU Tigers (1-1, 0-0 SEC). Game time is set for high noon in Columbia. LSU enters the contest ranked 16th in the Associated Press poll and 17th in the coaches’ poll, while South Carolina is receiving votes in both polls.

OVER THE AIRWAVES: For the second week in a row, the Gamecocks will have a national television audience watching on ABC. Chris Fowler will handle the play-by-play with Kirk Herbstreit providing the color commentary. Holly Rowe will work the sidelines. ESPN Radio will have a national broadcast with Mike Couzens and Max Starks in the booth and Mike Peasley on the sidelines. The Gamecock Sports Radio Network features a pair of Gamecock Great quarterbacks in play-by-play voice Todd Ellis (33rd season) and analyst Tommy Suggs (52nd season). Chet Tucker returns for his second year as the sideline reporter.

COMING TO OUR CITY: ESPN’S College GameDay returns to Columbia for the eighth time and for the first time since 2014. For the first time they will be located in Gamecock Park after making its four broadcasts from the State Fairgrounds and the last three from the historic Horseshoe in the middle of the University’s campus. The Gamecocks are 3-4 when the traveling show is in town.

LET ME REINTRODUCE MYSELF: The South Carolina Gamecocks are off to a 2-0 start this season and posted the first win in the newly formed 16-team Southeastern Conference to take sole possession of first place in the league’s standings. The Gamecocks have opened the 2024 season with back-to-back wins for the first time since the 2021 season when they defeated Eastern Illinois at home and went on the road to win at East Carolina. The Gamecocks also opened the 2024 SEC slate 1-0 for the first time since 2017 when they won at Missouri. Prior to last week’s win at Kentucky, they had lost their last six SEC openers to Georgia (2018, 2021 and 2023), Alabama (2019), Tennessee (2020) and Arkansas (2022).

TOUGH SLATE: South Carolina has one of the nation’s toughest schedules in 2024, as seven of its 12 regular-season opponents were ranked in the nation’s preseason top-20. The Gamecocks’ 2024 slate includes contests against preseason top-20 teams Alabama (5/5), Ole Miss (6/6), Missouri (11/11), LSU (13/12), Clemson (14/14), Oklahoma (16/16) and Texas A&M (20/20). 

A LITTLE HISTORY: 2024 marks year four of the Shane Beamer Era and the 131st season of intercollegiate football at the University of South Carolina, dating back to 1892. It is the 118th-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 636-613-44, a .509 winning percentage. Since the start of the 21st century, the Gamecocks are 170-131 record, a .565 winning clip. In four seasons under Coach Beamer, the Gamecocks are 22-18, a .550 winning percentage, including wins in five of their last six games.

THE SERIES: This is the 23rd all-time meeting between South Carolina and LSU, with the Tigers holding a commanding 19-2-1 advantage in the series. The Bayou Bengals own a 13-1 mark when the game is played in Baton Rouge, hold a 5-1-1 lead in games played in Columbia, and won the only neutral site contest, taking the 1987 Gator Bowl in Jacksonville, Fla. LSU has won the last seven meetings, including a 52-24 win at Tiger Stadium in 2020, the last time the schools played. South Carolina’s last win came by an 18-17 margin in Death Valley on Oct. 1, 1994. The Gamecocks only home win over the Tigers was back in 1930 at Melton Field in the first meeting between the two schools, a 7-6 victory.

AS SEC OPPONENTS: South Carolina and LSU have met nine times on the gridiron as SEC rivals, with six of those nine games contested in Louisiana. LSU holds a 7-1-1 advantage in the series since Carolina joined the SEC in 1992.

GOOD TO BE HOME: Each of the last three meetings between the Gamecocks and Tigers (2012, 2015 and 2020) have been in Baton Rouge with LSU’s last trip to Columbia coming in the 2008 season. The 2015 game was originally scheduled for Columbia but was moved the week of the game due to massive flooding in the Midlands. That 2015 game is also notable in that it would be Steve Spurrier’s last game as the Carolina head coach.

THE LAST TIME THEY MET: LSU scored in all three phases of the game, including a 45-yard interception return and a 95-yard kickoff return, en route to a 52-24 win over South Carolina on Oct. 24, 2020 in Death Valley. The Gamecocks had 403 yards of offense on just 51 plays, an average of 7.9-yards per play, but were unable to slow down the Tigers. Kevin Harris had a big day, rushing a dozen times for 126 yards and two scores. Keveon Mullins had his best day as a Gamecock, catching two passes for 101 yards. Ernest Jones logged a career-high 19 tackles in the loss. 

CAROLINA’S LAST WIN OVER LSU: South Carolina went into the Bayou on Oct. 1, 1994 and escaped with an 18-17 win. The Gamecocks trailed the entire contest until Stanley Pritchett plunged in from the one-yard line with 12:52 remaining in the game for the deciding points. Pritchett finished the day with 18 carries for 90 yards. LSU held a 14-12 lead at the intermission in front of 63,281 rain-soaked fans and built the lead to 17-12 entering the final stanza. Carolina quarterback Steve Taneyhill was 23-for-30 for 157 yards and a touchdown, as the Gamecocks rolled up 262 yards of offense compared to 209 for LSU. It was just the Gamecocks’ second win over LSU in school history, the first coming in the first meeting between the two schools, a 7-6 win on Oct. 11, 1930 in Columbia.

IT’S BEEN 94 YEARS: The Bengal Tigers of LSU, led by Joe Almokary, came to Melton Field on the University of South Carolina campus on Oct. 11, 1930. LSU entered the game averaging 77 points per game after outscoring their three opponents 232-0. According to “The First 100 Years” written by John Chandler Griffin, the big break came when the LSU punter, standing on the goal line, shanked his kick and put the ball out of bounds on the 23-yard line. Miles Blount immediately burst off right tackle, shook loose from two defenders and raced in for the TD. LSU scored later in the half, but the great Almokary delighted Gamecock fans by missing the extra point. The Carolina defense, anchored by captain Bob Gressette, came through brilliantly in the second half and the game ended with USC on top, 7-6. It’s the only time South Carolina has defeated LSU in Columbia.

IT JUST MEANS MORE: South Carolina wide receiver Gage Larvadain hails from Donaldsonville, La.

THE LAST TIME OUT: South Carolina traveled to Lexington to open the SEC slate against the Kentucky Wildcats on Saturday, Sept. 7 and left the Bluegrass State with a convincing 31-6 win, it’s third-straight win over their Big Blue rivals. Defense was the name of the game as Carolina surrendered just 183 total yards, limiting the Wildcats to just 44 through the air on 6-of-17 passing with two interceptions. Nick Emmanwori’s pick-six sealed the win and helped earn him SEC Defensive Player of the Week honors. Redshirt freshman quarterback LaNorris Sellers threw a pair of TD passes in the first road start of his career.

ROAD KILL: The Gamecocks won a road game for the fifth time in 15 tries under Shane Beamer with two of those road wins now coming at Kentucky (also in 2022). They have also won at East Carolina (2021), at Vanderbilt (2022) and at Clemson (2022).

IT’S BEEN A MINUTE: LaNorris Sellers became the first Gamecock freshman quarterback to lead his squad to an SEC road win since Ryan Hilinski pulled off the feat at Georgia in a double-overtime win during the 2019 season.

NO PASSING FANCY: The Carolina defense was stout at Kentucky, getting consistent pressure on the quarterback and turning the Wildcats into a one-dimensional team. Despite trailing for nearly the entire game, including a double-digit deficit for the finale 22 minutes, Kentucky completed just 6-of-17 passes for 44 yards. Carolina logged five sacks and was credited with four QB hurries and forced numerous holding penalties.

FEELING THE RUSH: The Gamecocks have recorded 10 sacks for 78 lost yards along with eight quarterback hurries over their first two games. Only Louisiana Tech (6.0) and Rice (5.5) are averaging more sacks per game than Carolina this season. The Gamecocks recorded just 21 sacks in 12 games in 2023 ago, ranking 101st in the country. Kyle Kennard (3.5 sacks) and Dylan Stewart (2.5) are ranked one and three, respectively in the SEC in sacks. They shared SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week honors following their performances in the win over ODU.

HE’S BACK: Fifth-year punter Kai Kroeger broke out his 2022 self at Kentucky. The ‘22 All-American punted five times for a 51.6-yard average at (where else?) Kroger Field, with four of his five punts covering more than 50 yards (54, 57, 53 and 58) while spotting two punts inside the 20. He was named the SEC Special Teams Player of the Week for the fifth time in his career.

THE FAB FIVE: South Carolina has gotten excellent production from five fab freshman this season. Quarterback LaNorris Sellers, the only redshirt freshman of the quintet, has passed for 281 yards and two touchdowns while adding 64 rushing yards and a score. His blind side protection comes from true freshman Josiah Thompson. Sellers’ top two targets have been true freshman wide receiver Mazeo Bennett Jr. (5 catches, 81 yards, 1 TD) and true freshman tight end Michael Smith (5 catches, 48 yards). On the defensive side of the ball, true freshman EDGE rusher Dylan Stewart has gained a lot of attention with six tackles including 2.5 sacks, two QB hurries and two forced fumbles in two games. He was the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Player of the Week and the SEC co-Defensive Lineman of the Week for his performance in the season opener against ODU.

FOR OPENERS: South Carolina opened its 2024 season with a 23-19 win over Old Dominion on Aug. 31 in Columbia. The Gamecocks got on the board less than two minutes in the contest on a Raheim Sanders’ 1-yard run after a Kyle Kennard strip sack put the Gamecocks in a goal-to-go situation. The Gamecocks got three field goals from Alex Herrera on the first three attempts of his career, to open up a 16-7 lead before the Monarchs rallied with 12-straight points to take a 19-16 advantage early in the fourth quarter. Freshman EDGE Dylan Stewart forced a fumble inside the 10-yard line, setting up a LaNorris Sellers’ three-yard touchdown run midway through the final period and the Gamecocks held on for the win. 

FORCING TURNOVERS: The Gamecocks forced four turnovers in the opener, turning two fumbles deep in ODU territory into 14 points, and picking off a pair of passes, one by O’Donnell Fortune in the redzone and one by Jalon Kilgore to seal the victory in the final minutes. They added a pair of interceptions at Kentucky, with Kilgore getting his second in as many games and Nick Emmanwori taking his first of the year and third in the last four games to the house for six. Only California (8), Illinois (8), Oklahoma (8) and San Jose State (7) have forced more turnovers than South Carolina’s six.

HERRERA HITS ‘EM: Sixth-year kicker Alex Herrera patiently waited his turn and was ready when his name was called. The local product from Spring Valley High School has connected on four of his five field goal attempts this season, hitting from 40, 46, and 33 yards in the Gamecocks’ win over ODU and from 29 at Kentucky He had never attempted a field goal prior to the season.

FRESH FACES: The Gamecocks started two true freshmen in the season opener, both on the offensive side of the ball, with left tackle Josiah Thompson and tight end Michael Smith earning the starting nod. They are the first true freshmen to start a season opener for the Gamecocks since 2019. 

WHO ARE THESE GUYS?: The Gamecocks have four new on-field assistant coaches for the 2024 season, including three on the offensive side of the ball. Regarded as an outstanding recruiter, Marquel Blackwell, who also has SEC ties having coached most recently at Texas A&M and before that Ole Miss, takes over as the new running backs coach. Long-time NFL special teams savant Joe DeCamillis assumes the duties vacated by Pete Lembo as associate head coach and special teams coach. DeCamillis has ties to Carolina, as his father-in-law, Dan Reeves, is a Gamecock Legend and former NFL head coach. DeCamillis owns two Super Bowl rings of his own. Former Gamecock assistant and Georgia State head coach Shawn Elliott returns to Columbia as the run game coordinator/tight ends coach. Elliott, a Camden, S.C. native, was the head coach at GSU for the past seven seasons and served as a Gamecock assistant from 2010-16 under Steve Spurrier and Will Muschamp. Mike Furrey, who spent seven seasons in the NFL as a player and four more as a wide receivers coach, is the newest member of the staff. He spent the past two seasons as the head coach at Limestone.

NEXT LEVEL COACHING EXPERIENCE: Six of the Gamecocks 10 assistant coaches have coaching experience in the NFL. Those who have earned their stripes with NFL teams include Joe DeCamillis, Mike Furrey, Torrian Gray, Dowell Loggains, Sterling Lucas and Lonnie Teasley. 

RUN IT BACK: The Gamecocks welcome 44 returning letterwinners to begin the 2024 fall session. The lettermen consist of 16 offensive players, 25 on the defensive side of the ball and three specialists.

HAVING A SENIOR MOMENT: The Gamecocks list 38 fourth-, fifth-, or sixth-year seniors on the roster, 18 on the offensive side of the ball, 16 on defense and four special teamers. Here are the nation’s most senior-oriented teams:

Rank Team Seniors

1. Eastern Michigan 39

2. South Carolina 38

3. Indiana 36

4. Oklahoma State 34

5. Hawaii 33

6. Northern Illinois 32

Bowling Green32

8. New Mexico 30

THE DANDY DOZEN: Twelve players have been on the Gamecocks’ roster since head coach Shane Beamer’s arrival in Columbia in December of 2020. The dozen includes Luke Doty, Bradley Dunn, O’Donnell Fortune, Tonka Hemingway, Alex Herrera, Alex Huntley, Mohamed Kaba, Kai Kroeger, Vershon Lee, Payton Mangrum, Jakai Moore and Hunter Rogers. 

JUST CAN’T GET ENOUGH: Eleven Gamecocks began their collegiate careers in 2019. Oscar Adaway III, Kamaar Bell, Davis Beville, Dalevon Campbell, Alex Herrera, DeAndre Jules, Demetrius Knight Jr., Bam Martin-Scott, Jakai Moore, Joshua Simon and David Spaulding all were 2019 high school graduates.

UTILIZING THE PORTAL: The Gamecocks’ fall roster features 21 players who were on other team’s rosters last fall. Of the 21 transfers, 11 are coming from Power-5 conferences, including six from the ACC, three from the SEC and two from the Big 12.

EARLY ENROLLEES: The Gamecocks had 13 true freshmen enroll in January including a dozen from the 16-player signing class. The three freshmen signees who joined the team during the summer were Matthew Fuller, Michael Smith and Jalewis Solomon.

ROSTER TURNOVER: Seventy-five of the 118 players on the Carolina roster (64 percent) are in either their first or second year in the program. 

BY THE NUMBERS: Carolina returned 15 percent of its rushing yards, four percent of its passing yards and 25 percent of its receiving yards from 2023. Juju McDowell (63 yards) is the top returning rusher while tight end Joshua Simon (256 yards) is the top returning receiver. The Gamecocks’ top returning passer is LaNorris Sellers, who threw just four passes for 86 yards a year ago. The top four tacklers from 2023 all return, including team-leader Debo Williams (113 tackles), Jalon Kilgore (76), DQ Smith (73) and Nick Emmanwori (71 tackles). T.J. Sanders (9.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks) is back after leading the squad in those two categories, while Nick Emmanwori (2 interceptions, 8 pass breakups) and O’Donnell Fortune (2 INT, 6 PBU) are the top returners in those categories.

THE PITT STOP: The 2024 transfer portal had a distinct Pitt Panther vibe to it as defensive tackle DeAndre Jules, linebacker Bangally Kamara and defensive back Buddy Mack III all made their way down to Columbia from the confluence of the Allegheny, Monongahela and Ohio rivers. In addition, quarterback Davis Beville spent his first three collegiate seasons on the Pitt campus before transferring to Oklahoma for the last two campaigns.

CAPTAIN, MY CAPTAIN: Defensive tackle Alex Huntley and linebacker Debo Williams return after being two of six permanent team captains from the 2023 squad. The other permanent captains named for the 2023 season were QB Spencer Rattler OL Nick Gargiulo, WR Xavier Legette and RB Dakereon Joyner.

FREAKING OUT: In 20 years of Bruce Feldman’s annual Freaks List, sophomore wide receiver Nyck Harbor is the first back-to-back No. 1 player. According to Feldman, Harbor, who is listed at 6-5 and 235 pounds and has posted times of 10.11 in the 100m and 20.20 in the 200m, “looks like a video game creation, which was backed up by EA Sports giving him the rare 99 speed and 99 acceleration rating.” Harbor wasn’t the only Gamecock to make Feldman’s 2024 list. Junior safety Nick Emmanwori checks in at No. 11. At 6-3 and 227 pounds, Emmanwori broad-jumped 11-4, vertical-jumped 42 inches, did 24 reps of 225 pounds on the bench press and squatted 565 pounds.

WORKING OVERTIME: The Gamecocks are 3-4 in games decided in overtime since the rule was added in 1996, the most recent being a double-overtime win at Georgia in 2019, a victory that earned them National Team of the Week honors. 

Date Opponent Score OTs

09/27/03 at #8 Tennessee L, 20-23 1OT

10/27/07 at Tennessee L, 24-27 1OT

10/26/13 at #5 Missouri W, 27-24 2OT

11/02/14 vs Tennessee L, 42-45 1OT

11/15/14 at Florida W, 23-20 1OT

12/29/16 #25 USF (Birmingham) L, 39-46 1OT

10/12/19 at #3 Georgia W, 20-17 2OT

YOUR MONEY’S NO GOOD HERE: Running back Bradley Dunn and linebacker Ronnie Porter were placed on scholarship during fall camp. The two special teams performers are both local private school products, with Dunn attending Hammond School and Porter prepping at Heathwood Hall.

TOTING THE SHEEPSKIN: The Gamecocks have 28 players who have earned their degrees, the most in the SEC. Eighteen of the 28 own degrees from the University of South Carolina. The list of graduates includes Oscar Adaway III, Kamaar Bell, Davis Beville, Dalevon Campbell, Luke Doty, Bradley Dunn, Nick Elksnis, King-Demenian Ford, O’Donnell Fortune, Tonka Hemingway, Alex Herrera, Brady Hunt, Alex Huntley, William Joyce, DeAndre Jules, Mohamed Kaba, Demetrius Knight Jr., Kai Kroeger, Vershon Lee, Buddy Mack III, Payton Mangrum, Bam Martin-Scott, Jakai Moore, Hunter Rogers, Raheim Sanders, Joshua Simon, David Spaulding and Debo Williams.

HEY NOW YOU’RE AN ALL-STAR: Five Gamecocks were selected to both the media and coaches’ 2024 preseason All-SEC teams. The quintet included long snapper Hunter Rogers, who was a first-team selection by the coaches and a second team pick by the media; second team selections running back Raheim Sanders and linebacker Debo Williams, and third team picks defensive tackle Tonka Hemingway and defensive back Nick Emmanwori.

UP NEXT: After back-to-back conference battles, the Gamecocks step out of conference next week when they host the Akron Zips out of the Mid-American Conference. South Carolina and Akron have met once previously on the gridiron, a 28-3 Gamecock win in the 2018 regular season finale. 

LOOKING FURTHER AHEAD: The 2025 schedule will have a similar look at the 2024 slate with the same contests taking place, just at the opposite venue. South Carolina will host Alabama, Kentucky, Oklahoma and Vanderbilt, and will travel to LSU, Ole Miss, Missouri and Texas A&M. The non-conference slate includes an Aug. 31 date in Atlanta against Virginia Tech, and three home games against in-state opponents. The Gamecocks will host FCS South Carolina State on Sept. 6, entertain Coastal Carolina on Nov. 22 and wrap up the season against Clemson on Nov. 29. 

DOWELL’S DOINGS: Second-year offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains has a much different looking offense to direct than he had a year ago. Gone are quarterback Spencer Rattler and wide receiver Xavier Legette, both of whom are now in the NFL, with Legette being a first-round pick by the Carolina Panthers. Loggains turns the quarterback reins over to redshirt freshman LaNorris Sellers. Sellers has an All-SEC running back behind him in Arkansas transfer Raheim “Rocket” Sanders. 

QB1: Redshirt freshman LaNorris Sellers was dubbed QB1 for the Gamecocks heading into the 2024 season. Sellers, a 6-3, 242-pounder from Florence, S.C., saw limited action in three contests a season ago playing behind Spencer Rattler. Sellers, who is blessed with excellent size, speed and arm strength, competed all four of his passes for 86 yards and two touchdowns in 2023 and rushed five times for 51 yards and a score. This season he is 20-for-37 for 281 yards with two touchdowns.

YOUNG GUN: LaNorris Sellers became the first freshman (true or redshirt) quarterback to start for the Gamecocks since Luke Doty started the final two games of the 2020 season as a true freshman. The last freshman (true or redshirt) QB to start a season opener for South Carolina was Chris Smelley, who was a redshirt freshman when he got the nod versus Louisiana-Lafayette to open the 2007 season. Sellers responded against ODU by completed 10-of-23 passes for 114 yards and rushing 22 times for 68 yards and a TD. The 22 carries were the most by a Gamecock QB since Connor Shaw had 22 in 2013.

ROCKET LAUNCH: Raheim “Rocket” Sanders made his much-anticipated Gamecock debut against ODU. Sanders, a 6-0, 230-pound senior transfer from Arkansas, was a first-team All-SEC selection in 2022 after rushing for 1,443 yards and 10 touchdowns as a Razorback. To put that in perspective, the Gamecocks rushed for 1,021 yards as a team in 2023. The Gamecocks last 1,000-yard rusher was Kevin Harris in the COVID-shortened 2020 season. Sanders responded in the opener by matching his career high with 24 rushing attempts for 88 yards and a touchdown. He added 54 yards on 13 carries with a TD at Kentucky. After two games he is the Gamecocks’ leading rusher with 37 attempts for 142 yards and two scores.

LEADERS OF THE PACK: South Carolina boasts a pair of wide receivers who led their team in receiving yards a year ago. Dalevon Campbell caught 31 passes for 594 yards for the Nevada Wolf Pack, while Gage Larvadain was Miami (Ohio)’s top receiver with 42 receptions for 679 yards and six scores. In addition, Jared Brown, who had better numbers than both Campbell and Larvadain, was Coastal Carolina’s second-leading receiver with 58 catches for 740 yards and four TDs.

YOUTH WILL BE SERVED: The Gamecocks have 22 receptions this season, with 12 of the 22 going to Mazeo Bennett Jr. (5), Michael Smith (5) and Vandrevius Jacobs (2), a trio of freshmen. 

TWO-SPORT STAR: Gamecocks wide receiver Nyck Harbor is one of the fastest players in college football. The two-sport star posted a 20.87 clocking in the 200 meters and 6.73 in the 60 meters during the indoor season. He earned All-America honors during the outdoor season after logging personal bests of 10.11 in the 100m and 20.30 in the 200.

THROW IT TO THE TIGHT END: Sixth-year player Joshua Simon is the Gamecocks’ top returning receiver, having caught 28 passes for 256 yards and two touchdowns a season ago. In fact, Carolina’s top two tight ends, Trey Knox and Simon, were the team’s second- and third leading receivers, respectively in 2023. Brady Hunt joined the unit as a transfer from Ball State. Hunt was a 2022 Freshman All-American after caching 46 passes for 498 yards and five touchdowns that season but missed all of 2023 with an ankle injury. True freshman Michael Smith has started each of the first two games despite not having the benefit of going through a spring practice.

O-LINE EXPERIENCE: South Carolina’s offensive line entered the 2024 season with a combined 149 career collegiate starts, the sixth-highest total in Division I Football. Torricelli Simpkins III (35 games/35 starts), Kamaar Bell (33/29), Jakai Moore (44/28) and Vershon Lee (38/27) led the way. The Gamecocks’ offensive line’s 220 combined games played ranked 11th in the country heading into the 2024 campaign.

Offensive Line Games Started Entering 2024

1 Oklahoma State 215

2. Florida State 210

3. Duke 168

4. Iowa 165

5. Nebraska 153

6. South Carolina 149

7. Colorado State 144

Oregon144

9. Kentucky 143

Texas Tech143

FLEX-NICKEL: Fourth-year defensive coordinator Clayton White uses a “Flex-Nickel” defense, which allows the Gamecocks to mix a four-man and a three-man front, with five defensive backs on the field. With eight returning starters, led by all-SEC linebacker Debo Williams, and several experienced transfers, the Gamecocks have been excellent through the first two games, allowing just 12.5 points per game while ranking 10th in the country in pass efficiency defense.

SOLID AS A ROCK: The Gamecock defense allowed 19 points and 305 yards in the opening game win over Old Dominion. The Monarchs picked up 108 yards on two plays (a 72-yard pass reception and a 36-yard run) accounting for their two touchdowns. ODU logged just 197 yards on their other 70 plays, averaging just 2.8 yards per play. In the win at Kentucky, the Wildcats gained just 183 yards including 44 through the air, averaging a paltry 2.9 yards per play and were held out of the endzone.

HEY TURN ME OVER: The Carolina defense has been opportunistic under the Beamer/White regime. The Gamecocks forced 17 turnovers in 2023, got four in the opener against ODU, two more at Kentucky and have forced 70 turnovers over the past four seasons, tops in the SEC during that span.

SACK ATTACK: Kyle Kennard has the most sacks among the 2024 Gamecocks, recording 6.0 last season and 12.5 in his career while at Georgia Tech. He picked up right where he left off with 2.5 sacks in the opener against ODU and one more at Kentucky for an SEC leading 3.5. Last season, Carolina recorded 21 sacks in 12 games but already have 10 sacks in just two games this season.  

DEBO IF YOU DO: Linebacker Debo Williams earned first-team All-SEC honors and was tabbed the Joe Morrision MVP for the defense a season ago after he tallied a team-leading 113 tackles, the third-highest total in the SEC and the most by a Gamecock since Jonathan Martin in 2002. He led the team with seven stops in the opener vs. ODU and had six at Kentucky including 2.0 tackles for loss.

SODA CITY SECONDARY: The Gamecock secondary certainly has a local feel to it as both starting safeties, Nick Emmanwori and DQ Smith are local products from Irmo and Spring Valley High Schools, respectively. In addition, reserve safety King-Demenian Ford is from the metro area as well (Blythewood), while starting corner O’Donnell Fortune is from just down the road in Sumter.

BROTHERLY LOVE: The Gamecocks have two sets of brothers on their roster, all four of whom play on the defensive side of the ball. Jalon Kilgore was a Freshman All-American for the Gamecocks in 2023, while his older brother, Gerald Kilgore, joined the team in the spring as a transfer after two seasons at Tennessee Tech. Both play in the secondary. Linebacker Ronnie Porter, who was placed on scholarship during fall camp, begins his fourth season in the program. This year he is joined by his younger brother, walk-on Rondarius Porter, who plays defensive tackle.

PICK THIS: The Gamecocks intercepted 10 passes in 2023, down from 15 in each of the two previous seasons. They have four already this season, tying for sixth in the country, notching a pair in the opener against ODU, including O’Donnell Fortune’s fifth career pick. Jalon Kilgore has one in each game and Nick Emmanwori got his third in four games at Kentucky, taking it to paydirt. BEAMER BALL 2.0: When the head coach carries the surname “Beamer,” you know an emphasis will be placed on special teams. The Gamecocks became known for their outstanding special teams over the past three seasons under the direction of Pete Lembo. Coach Lembo moved on to become the head coach at Buffalo, while veteran NFL special teams guru Joe DeCamillis takes over in that role at South Carolina. He is blessed to have two All-Americans to work with – punter Kai Kroeger and long snapper Hunter Rogers.

BLOCK THAT KICK: When your head coach is named Beamer, special teams are a big part of the game. The Gamecocks have been among the leaders in blocked kicks since 2021, topping the Southeastern Conference with 15 during that time, including a blocked extra point in the 2024 opener.

HIP, HIP HERRERA: The placekicking duties were wide open heading into fall camp with Alex Herrera, William Joyce, Daniel Lester, Peyton Argent and Mason Love all competing for the No. 1 duties. Herrera, a sixth-year senior, who was 4-for-4 in career extra point attempts and has also handled some kickoff duties emerged as the derby winner. He responded by successfully converting 3-of-4 attempts against Old Dominion, accounting for 11 of the Gamecocks’ 23 points and hit his only attempt at Kentucky, a 29-yarder.

ALMOST AUTOMATIC: Dating back to 2021, the South Carolina kickers have successfully converted 43-of-47 field goal attempts (91.5 pct.) the best mark among the 14 schools that have played SEC football during that four-year stretch.

SPRING VALLEY REPRESENTS: Both starting placekicker Alex Herrera and long snapper Hunter Rogers were teammates at Columbia’s Spring Valley High School under long-time head coach Robin Bacon. Herrera was a 2019 grad while Rogers graduated a year later.

A SEASON TO REMEMBER: Kai Kroeger had one of the best seasons by a punter in Carolina history in 2022 when he averaged 46.1 yards per punt, the best mark in the SEC and fifth in the country. Eighteen of his 58 punts traveled 50 or more yards, including a career-long 79-yarder. Twenty-nine of his 58 punts pinned opponents inside their 20-yard line. Here are the single-season punting leaders:

SINGLE-SEASON PUNTING AVERAGE

1.Joseph Charlton (2019)47.7 (68 for 3,244)

2. Kai Kroeger (2022) 46.1 (58 for 2,675)

HE’S MADE A CAREER OF IT: Kai Kroeger has been the Gamecocks’ punter for five seasons. He has booted 228 punts for 10,039 yards, an average of 44.0-yards per punt. Of his 228 punts, 52 have traveled 50+ yards, 85 have been marked inside the 20 with just 15 touchbacks. He is just 33 punts shy of Chris Norman’s school record of 261 punts set from 1980-83 and needs just 638 yards to surpass Norman’s record of most punting yards (10,677).

CAREER PUNTING AVERAGE (Min. 75 Punts)

1.Joseph Charlton (2015-19)45.5 (171 for 7,786)

2. Kai Kroeger (2020-24) 44.0 (228 for 10,039)

CAREER PUNTS

1.Chris Norman (1980-83)261

2. Kai Kroeger (2020-24) 228

CAREER PUNTING YARDS

1.Chris Norman (1980-83)10,677

2. Kai Kroeger (2020-24) 10,039

KAI CAN PASS: Kai Kroeger is 7-for-8 passing for 205 yards and three touchdowns during his career with a gaudy 426.5 career QB rating.

AND KAI CAN HOLD: Kai Kroeger is elite when it comes to holding on placements, something he has done since coming on the South Carolina campus in 2020. In 2022, he was one of four finalists for the Mortell Award, which recognizes the nation’s top holder.

CHICKS DIG THE LONG BALL: Kai Kroeger owns three of the Gamecocks’ 10 70-plus yard punts since 1979:

Year Punter Opponent Yards

1979 Jay Feltz Clemson 80

1983 Chris Norman Miami (O) 80

1992 Marty Simpson Vanderbilt 79

2022 Kai Kroeger Georgia State 79

1981 Chris Norman Virginia 75

2017 Joseph Charlton Missouri 73

2021 Kai Kroger Texas A&M 73

1982 Chris Norman Navy 70 

2001 Tyeler Dean Ohio State 70

2021 Kai Kroger Vanderbilt 70

OH SNAP: Hunter Rogers handles the snapping duties on both punts and placements. He was recognized as a second-team All-SEC performer by the league’s 14 coaches for his efforts in 2022 and earned first-team All-SEC accolades from the coaches in 2023. He is a preseason first-team All-SEC pick by the coaches in 2024 and is a candidate for All-America honors.