Gamecocks and Zips Set for Saturday Night Showdown

After back-to-back Southeastern Conference games, the South Carolina Gamecocks (2-1, 1-1 SEC) step out of conference action on Saturday, Sept. 21, when they host the Akron Zips (1-2, 0-0 MAC) out of the Mid-American Conference. The contest is slated for 7:30 pm at Williams-Brice Stadium (77,559) in Columbia. A full house is expected for the game as it’s Family Weekend on the University of South Carolina campus and it’s the first night game of the 2024 season. 

OVER THE AIRWAVES: This week’s contest will be televised nationally on ESPNU. Clay Matvick will handle the play-by-play with former Temple, Boston College and Colorado State head coach Steve Addazio providing the color commentary. 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.

LET ME REINTRODUCE MYSELF: The South Carolina Gamecocks are off to a 2-1 start this season. They opened with a hard-fought 23-19 win over Old Dominion, then dominated Kentucky in the SEC opener, winning by a 31-6 count in Lexington, the largest road win in the Shane Beamer Era at South Carolina. The Gamecocks were unable to hold onto a 17-0 first half lead last week in a heartbreaking 36-33 setback to No. 16/17 LSU despite rushing for 243 yards, forcing two turnovers and blocking a punt.

ZIP INTO THE WIN COLUMN: Akron enters this week’s contest with a 1-2 mark. The Zips dropped a pair of lopsided games against Big Ten schools Ohio State (52-6) and Rutgers (49-17) on the road to open the season before rallying from a 17-0 first-quarter deficit to post a 31-20 win over FCS-level Colgate last Saturday in their home opener. The Zips final eight games of the season after this week are all MAC contests.

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 636-614-44, a .509 winning percentage. Since the start of the 21st century, the Gamecocks are 170-132, a .563 winning clip. In four seasons under Coach Beamer, the Gamecocks are 22-19, a .537 winning percentage, including wins in five of their last seven games.

IT JUST MEANS MORE: The 2024 season is South Carolina’s 33rd year in the Southeastern Conference. South Carolina and Arkansas joined the SEC prior to the 1992 campaign. The Gamecocks earned the SEC Eastern Division title in the 2010 season. The Gamecocks are 110-149-1 (.425) all-time in SEC regular season play but posted a 42-38 (.525) record in conference action from 2010-19. Under Coach Beamer, the Gamecocks are 11-15 in SEC play, a .423 winning percentage.

TOUGH SLATE: South Carolina again 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). 

GAMECOCKS VS. ZIPS: This is the second gridiron battle between the SEC’s South Carolina Gamecocks and the Akron Zips, out of the Mid-American Conference. South Carolina was a 28-3 winner in 2018, the only previous encounter between the two squads.

IT TOOK AN ACT OF GOD: South Carolina and Akron met on Dec. 1, 2018 in Columbia in the only previous meeting between the two schools. The game was added to the schedule after both teams had early season contests called off due to weather. The Gamecocks were slated to host Marshall on Sept. 15, but that game was canceled due to Hurricane Florence. The Zips were scheduled to play at Nebraska on Sept. 1, however that game was canceled due to lightning.

SO WHAT HAPPENED IN THE GAME?: Deebo Samuel scored three times, two on touchdown passes from Jake Bentley and a third on a fumbled snap in the end zone while the Zips were in punt formation, as the Gamecocks wrapped up the 2018 regular season with a 28-3 win over Akron on Dec. 1. The game which was played on a wet, cold December afternoon, was marred by seven turnovers. Bentley finished the day completing 14-of-27 passes for 199 yards. Mon Denson rushed 17 times for 110 yards and Rico Dowdle added 86 yards on 13 carries. Bryan Edwards caught five passes for 109 yards. The Carolina defense had 11 tackles for loss including five sacks in the contest. The Gamecocks, under the leadership of Will Muschamp, would go on to lose to Virginia in the Belk Bowl to finish the season with a 7-6 mark, while Akron, led by head coach Terry Bowden, wrapped up its season with a 4-8 record.

HISTORY OF THE ZIPS: The team was established in 1891 when the school was known as Buchtel College and later became the University of Akron in 1913. In 1926, the athletic teams were named the Zippers after rubber boots manufactured by the B.F. Goodrich Company, which was headquartered in Akron at the time. The name was shortened to “Zips” in 1950.

MAC ATTACK: The Mid-American Conference is currently made up of a dozen schools. The Gamecocks are 9-3 against teams that currently comprise the MAC, but the game against Akron in 2018 was their first since matchup with a MAC opponent since the 2000 season. Eleven of the previous 12 matchups with MAC opponents were held at Williams-Brice Stadium, with the lone exception being the 1975 Tangerine Bowl in Orlando against Miami (Ohio).

WE’RE ON A ROLL: After dropping three of their first four, with all three losses coming to Miami (Ohio), the Gamecocks have won eight-straight games against MAC opponents in a series of games contested between 1977 and 2018.

YOU’RE NOT WORTHY: The Gamecocks are 43-15 in their last 58 non-conference games, a .741 winning percentage, with eight of the 15 losses in that stretch coming against Clemson. The Gamecocks went 2-2 against non-conference foes in 2023 and are 1-0 in non-conference play this season following a season-opening win over Old Dominion.

PROTECT THIS HOUSE: South Carolina has won 39 of its last 46 home games (.848) against non-conference foes. The Gamecocks have won six of their last seven non-conference home games.

THE POWER OF FOUR: Since the turn of the century, the Gamecocks have a 55-4 mark (.932) against teams not currently in a Power-4 conference. The only four losses in that stretch came to UConn in the 2010 Papajohns.com Bowl, to The Citadel in 2015, to USF in the 2016 Birmingham Bowl and to Appalachian State in 2019. It should be noted that UConn was in the Big East, which was a BCS automatic qualifier during the 2009 season.

ABOUT LAST WEEK: With the entire country tuning in for a national television broadcast on ABC and ESPN’s College GameDay in Columbia, the Gamecocks jumped out to a 17-0 advantage, but the No. 16/17 LSU Tigers fought back to escape with a 36-33 win in Columbia last Saturday afternoon in front of a sold-out crowd of 79,531 at Williams-Brice Stadium. 

PUTTING POINTS ON THE BOARD: The Gamecocks scored 33 points against LSU, the most they’ve ever scored against the Tigers, surpassing the 29 points tallied in 1973. Carolina had 24 points in the first half, the most it has ever scored in a half against LSU. The 17-point first half advantage was also its largest lead ever against the Bayou Bengals in a series that LSU now leads 20-2-1.

POUND THE ROCK: The Gamecocks rolled up 243 yards on the ground on 41 carries against LSU, an average of 5.9 yards per rush. The 243 yards rushing was the fourth-highest single-game total in the Shane Beamer Era at South Carolina, and the second-most recorded against an SEC school in that four-year span.

PARTY LIKE IT’S 2022: Raheim Sanders looked like the Rocket of 2022 when he rushed for over 1,400 yards at Arkansas, as he carried 19 times for 143 yards and two touchdowns against LSU. He scored on touchdown runs of 10 and 66 yards. Rocket’s 143 yards rushing was the most for a Gamecock against an SEC opponent since Kevin Harris logged 210 yards vs Kentucky in 2020. He entered the contest with 142 yards rushing and doubled that total in his performance against the Tigers.

THAT’S A RECORD: LaNorris Sellers broke through the LSU defense for a 75-yard second quarter touchdown scamper. It was the longest run recorded by a South Carolina quarterback in school history. Sellers finished the day with 10 carries for a career-high 88 yards and two scores in just over a half of play, leaving the contest with an ankle sprain suffered just before the half.

GO THE DISTANCE: With LaNorris Sellers scoring from 75-yards out and Raheim Sanders reaching paydirt on a 66-yard burst, the Gamecocks had two players log runs of 66 or more yards for the first time since Sept. 6, 1980 when Carl West (84) and George Rogers (72) had big runs against Pacific. It’s the third time overall in program history as Steve Wadiak went for 66- and 73-yard bursts versus Clemson in 1950.

FLAG ON THE PLAY: South Carolina was whistled for 13 penalties for 123 yards in the loss to LSU, including a pair of penalties that negated interception returns for touchdowns. It was the most penalties called against the Gamecocks since Oct. 17, 1998 against Arkansas.

HISTORY SAYS THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN A W: The Gamecocks had history on its side numbers-wise in the loss to LSU. After Saturday’s setback, the Gamecocks under Shane Beamer are now:

* 18-3 when leading at the half

* 15-1 when leading after three quarters

* 18-5 when scoring first

* 15-4 when scoring 30-plus points 

* 16-4 when rushing for 100-plus yards  

IT’S A BLOCK PARTY: Maurice Brown II blocked a punt in the second quarter for the Gamecocks against LSU, leading to a Carolina touchdown. It was the second blocked kick of the season and the 16th blocked kick under Shane Beamer. With two blocks in 2024, the Gamecocks are tied for second in the country with nine other teams.

UNDER PRESSURE: The Gamecocks have recorded an SEC-leading 12 sacks for 102 lost yards along with 14 quarterback hurries over their first three games. Only Rice (4.67) and Louisville (4.5) are averaging more sacks per game than Carolina’s 4.0. The Gamecocks recorded just 21 sacks in 12 games in 2023 ago, ranking 101st in the country. Kyle Kennard (5.0 sacks) and Dylan Stewart (2.5) are ranked one and seven, respectively in the SEC in sacks. They shared SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week honors following their performances in the win over ODU.

THE FAB FIVE: South Carolina has gotten excellent production from five fab freshmen this season. Quarterback LaNorris Sellers, the only redshirt freshman of the quintet, has passed for 393 yards and two touchdowns while adding 145 rushing yards and three scores. His blind side protection comes from true freshman Josiah Thompson, who has started all three games. Two of Sellers’ top four targets have been true freshman wide receiver Mazeo Bennett Jr. (6 catches, 88 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, a fumble recovery and two forced fumbles in three 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.

RECAPPING THE OPENER: 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. 

LOPSIDED WIN IN LEXINGTON: South Carolina traveled to Lexington to open the SEC slate against the Kentucky Wildcats on 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. Punter Kai Kroger punted five times for a 51.6-yard average with a long of 58, earning SEC Special Teams Player of the Week for the fifth time in his career.

THAT’S OUR BALL: The Gamecocks have forced eight turnovers through the first three games, the SEC’s second-highest total and tied for the nation’s eighth-best mark. They 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. Carolina added two more turnovers against LSU, recovering a fumble and getting another pick from Emmanwori. They also had a pair of pick-sixes nullified by penalties versus LSU.

FRESH FACES: The Gamecocks have started four true freshmen this season. Left tackle Josiah Thompson and tight end Michael Smith both earned the start in the opener, the first true freshmen to start a season opener for the Gamecocks since 2019. True freshman wide receiver Mazeo Bennett Jr. and EDGE Dylan Stewart have also made starts in their first season in Columbia. 

WHO ARE THESE GUYS?: The Gamecocks have four new on-field assistant coaches in 2024, including three on offense. Marquel Blackwell, who also has SEC ties having coached most recently at Texas A&M and before that Ole Miss, is 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, 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. 

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

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.

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 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 

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. A third walk-on, Maurice Brown II, was rewarded with a scholarship after the Kentucky game.

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: The Gamecocks will enjoy their first of two open weeks next week. After that respite, they will begin a three-game gauntlet in October in which they will host No. 5/5 Ole Miss, play at No. 4/4 Alabama and travel to No. 15/13 Oklahoma before their second open week on Oct. 26. 

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. 

OFFENSE LOGS IN: Second-year offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains has a much different 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 turned 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 tabbed 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 29-for-53 (54.7 pct.) for 393 yards with two touchdowns. He has also rushed 40 times for 145 yards and three scores.

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.

SELLING HIGH: LaNorris Sellers has established career bests with 22 carries against ODU and 88 yards rushing versus LSU, along with a career-long 75-yard run against LSU. 

ROCKET LAUNCH: Raheim “Rocket” 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 logged 142 yards and two scores through the first two games, but broke loose against LSU, rushing 19 times for 143 yards and two scores, including a 66-yard TD run. For the season, he has carries 56 times for 285 yards with four touchdowns, averaging 95.0 yards per game, fourth in the SEC, and 5.1 yards per carry. His four rushing TDs ranks fifth in the league.

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 32 pass receptions this season, with 14 of the 32 going to Mazeo Bennett Jr. (6), Michael Smith (5) and Vandrevius Jacobs (3), 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. Simon has five receptions for 66 yards and a score this season.  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 two games despite not having the benefit of going through a spring practice. He has five receptions for 48 yards.

SAME LINE, DIFFERENT DAY: The Gamecocks have started the same five offensive linemen in each of the first three games this season, with Josiah Thompson, Kamaar Bell, Vershon Lee, Torricelli Simpkins III and Cason Henry working from left to right. That is a complete 180 from last year when Carolina started a different front five in each of the first nine games.

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

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 and several experienced transfers, it’s a veteran group led by all-SEC linebacker Debo Williams.

HEY TURN ME OVER: The Carolina defense has been opportunistic under the Beamer/White regime. The Gamecocks already have forced eight turnovers through three games. They got four in the opener against ODU, two at Kentucky and two more versus LSU, and have forced 72 turnovers over the past four seasons, tops in the SEC during that span.

SACK ATTACK: Kyle Kennard is off to a fast start, collecting 5.0 sacks through three games. He is tied with North Carolina’s Jahvaree Ritzie for the FBS lead in sacks. He logged 2.5 sacks in the opener against ODU, helping him earn co-SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week honors, 1.0 at Kentucky and 1.5 versus LSU. Last season, Carolina recorded 21 sacks in 12 games but already have 12 sacks in just three games this season.

PLAYING WITH AN EDGE: The Gamecocks’ EDGE tandem of Kyle Kennard and Dylan Stewart came up big in the win over ODU, sharing SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week honors. Kennard recorded four tackles including 3.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks and was also credited with a forced fumble. His strip sack on the second play of the game was recovered by the Gamecocks on the 3-yard line, setting up Carolina’s first TD of the season. Stewart, who was named the 247Sports True Freshman of the Week, was also credited with four tackles including 1.5 sacks, a quarterback hurry and two forced fumbles in the contest. His strip sack midway through the fourth quarter inside the Monarchs’ 10-yard line set up the winning score. According to PFF College, the five-star prospect posted a 97.4 PFF grade in his collegiate debut. For the season, the dynamic duo has combined for 9.5 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks. 

THE GRASS ISN’T ALWAYS GREENER: EDGE rusher Gilber Edmond is one of 13 players who returned to the school in which he began his career before transferring to another four-year institution.

SAY MY NAME: 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 is second on the squad with 19 tackles, including 15 solo stops and 2.0 tackles for loss through three games.

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.

NICK AT NIGHT: Nick Emmanwori is living proof that turnovers come in bunches. The junior safety has an interception in each of the last two games, including a pick-six at Kentucky, and four in his last five games after playing his first 22 collegiate games without an interception. He is also the Gamecocks’ leading tackler in 2024 with 21 stops including 16 solo tackles.

PICK THIS: The Gamecocks intercepted 10 passes in 2023, down from 15 in each of the two previous seasons. They are already halfway to last year’s total with five this season, tying for seventh in the country.

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.

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: The Gamecocks have been among the leaders in blocked kicks since 2021, topping the Southeastern Conference with 16 during that time, including a pair this season.

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 has responded by successfully converting 6-of-8 attempts and leads the team with 27 points.

ALMOST AUTOMATIC: Dating back to 2021, the South Carolina kickers have successfully converted 45-of-50 field goal attempts (90.0 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. Carolina safety DQ Smith is also a Spring Valley grad from 2022.

HE’S MADE A CAREER OF IT: Kai Kroeger has been the Gamecocks’ punter for five seasons. He has booted 231 punts for 10,169 yards, an average of 44.0-yards per punt, second in school history behind only Joseph Charlton. Of his 231 punts, 52 have traveled 50+ yards, 85 have been marked inside the 20 with just 15 touchbacks. He is nearing Chris Norman’s career school-leading number of punts and punting yards and is one of just 16 punters in SEC history to eclipse the 10,000-yard mark.

CAREER PUNTING AVERAGE (Min. 75 Punts)

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

2. Kai Kroeger (2020-24) 44.0 (231 for 10,169)

CAREER PUNTS

1.Chris Norman (1980-83)261

2. Kai Kroeger (2020-24) 231

CAREER PUNTING YARDS

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

2. Kai Kroeger (2020-24) 10,169

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  a season-long 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. He owns three of the Gamecocks’ 10 70-plus yard punts since 1979.

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.

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.