Landon Ard

* 2015 Harold White GPA Award winner for special teams

* Two-time member of the SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll

2015: Fifth-year senior who handled kickoffs, his third full season of that duty… averaged a career-best 63.2 yards per kick… had 42 touchbacks among his 59 kicks (71.2 percent), well above his career average of 52.5 percent (117-of-223)… named the Harold White GPA award winner for special teams at the spring game… a two-time member of the SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll.

2014: Handled kickoff duties for most of the season… averaged 60.7 yards with 36 touchbacks among his 68 kickoffs… had five touchbacks against East Carolina and logged six in eight kickoffs against Furman… executed an onside kick at Auburn, the Gamecocks’ first since 2007… had six-of-seven touchbacks versus Tennessee… scored his only point of the season against South Alabama… a member of the SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll… selected as the Harold White GPA award winner for special teams in the spring.

2013: Sophomore who handled the kickoff chores for the Gamecocks all season… logged 83 kickoffs for an average of 61.7 yards with 36 touchbacks (43 percent)… opponents averaged 22.5 yards per return… credited with three tackles including a pair of solo stops… a member of the SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll… considered the Most Improved placekicker in the spring.

2012: Earned the duties as the kickoff specialist early in the season… also had a couple appearances when the Gamecocks attempted an onside kick… had three touchbacks among his 13 kickoffs… named one of four outstanding walk-ons at the 2012 spring game.

2011: Walk-on who joined the team in the fall and was redshirted.

HIGH SCHOOL: Graduated from South Pointe High in Rock Hill, S.C. in 2011… played football for coach Bobby Carroll… earned all-area, all-region and all-state honors… turned down a scholarship from Newberry.

PERSONAL: Landon E. Ard graduated in May 2015 with a degree in sport and entertainment management.