Draft Scout South Carolina Player News, College Football: South Carolina

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Draft Scout College Football Player News: South Carolina

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09/13/22 - Jordan Strachan, rSr/2024, South Carolina + More +

South Carolina's defense is dealing with some tough injury news. Defensive starters Jordan Strachan and Mo Kaba will miss the remainder of the season, USC confirmed on Monday. Both suffered ACL injuries in Saturday's 44-30 loss to Arkansas. "I'm extremely disappointed and heart-broken for both of these young men," Beamer said through a statement. "They both worked really hard to prepare for this season and were off to great starts for us. Their best football is still in front of them." Kaba, a junior, was injured in the second quarter while pressuring KJ Jefferson in the backfield. He was helped off the field and didn't put much weight on his leg. He also suffered an ACL injury in high school. - Rock Hill Herald

rSr/2024

DE Jordan Strachan, South Carolina
News Source: Rock Hill Herald
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09/13/22 - *Cam Smith, Jr/2023, South Carolina + More +

TRACKING TOP DRAFT PROSPECTS - WEEK 2: 48. Cam Smith, rJr, CB, South Carolina, 6-1, 188, 2,...Smith was aggressive with a team leading seven tackles and an additional four assists in South Carolina's 44-30 loss to Arkansas. Previous week, No. 47: In a 35-14 win over Georgia State, the South Carolina Gamecocks were in control, giving up 311 total yards, including only 111 in the air. Smith was credited with two total tackles. - Frank Cooney/NFL Draft Scout

Jr/2023

CB *Cam Smith, South Carolina
News Source: Frank Cooney/NFL Draft Scout
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09/12/22 - Jordan Strachan, rSr/2024, South Carolina + More +

South Carolina lost starting linebacker Mohamed Kaba and backup defensive end Jordan Strachan for the season after both suffered ACL injuries during a weekend loss at Arkansas. Gamecocks coach Shane Beamer announced the status of both players Monday, two days after the 44-30 loss to the Razorbacks. It's a huge blow for a South Carolina defense that faces No. 1 Georgia at home Saturday. Kaba is a 6-foot-2, 239 pound junior from Clinton, North Carolina, who started the first two games for South Carolina (1-1). He had eight tackles and a pass breakup. The 6-5, 245-pound Strachan is from Kingsland, Georgia, and in his sixth year of football after transferring from Georgia State. Strachan had 10 tackles and led the Gamecocks with three stops behind the line of scrimmage. "I'm extremely disappointed and heartbroken for both of these young men,” Beamer said in a statement. "They both worked really hard to prepare for this season and were off to great starts for us." - South Carolina/AP College Football

rSr/2024

DE Jordan Strachan, South Carolina
News Source: South Carolina/AP College Football
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09/10/22 - Raheim Sanders, rJr/2026, South Carolina + More +

Rocket Sanders ran for a career-high 156 yards and scored Arkansas' first two touchdowns, and KJ Jefferson ran for a score and threw for another to lift the No. 16 Razorbacks past South Carolina 44-30 on Saturday. Jefferson led Arkansas (2-0, 1-0 Southeastern Conference) on three scoring drives in the fourth quarter, never allowing South Carolina to rally. He finished 18 of 21 for 162 yards passing and ran for 67 yards. A 23-yard touchdown pass to Warren Thompson with 12:09 left provided the key score, giving Arkansas a 19-point edge. South Carolina had fumbled on its previous drive after Jefferson's 2-yard touchdown run. Arkansas scored on its first three possessions of the game, all of which went for 12 plays or more.

Sanders finished the first two and freshman Rashod Dubinion had his first career touchdown, giving Arkansas a 21-3 lead in the second quarter. Spencer Rattler was 23 of 38 with 361 yards passing for South Carolina (1-1, 0-1), though 173 of those came in the fourth quarter when the Gamecocks were chasing from way behind. Rattler's 62-yard touchdown pass to Antwane Wells Jr. in the third quarter pulled the Gamecocks within five. When he sought Wells in the end zone again in the fourth, he was intercepted by Dwight McGlothern. Arkansas, which was seventh in FBS averaging 228 yards a game on the ground last year, ran for 300 against South Carolina. The Gamecocks had an interception and lost two fumbles. - Arkansas/AP College Football

rJr/2026

RB Raheim Sanders, South Carolina
News Source: Arkansas/AP College Football
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09/05/22 - *Cam Smith, Jr/2023, South Carolina + More +

TRACKING TOP DRAFT PROSPECTS - WEEK 1: 47. Cam Smith, rJr, CB, South Carolina, 6-1, 188,...In a 35-14 win over Georgia State, the South Carolina Gamecocks were in control, giving up 311 total yards, including only 111 in the air. Smith was credited with two total tackles. - Frank Cooney/NFL Draft Scout

Jr/2023

CB *Cam Smith, South Carolina
News Source: Frank Cooney/NFL Draft Scout
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09/03/22 - Spencer Rattler, rSr/2024, South Carolina + More +

South Carolina's special teams led the way toward a season-opening 35-14 victory over Georgia State on Saturday night. Special teams have always been an emphasis for Gamecocks coach Shane Beamer, who watched his father, Frank, win game after game with "Beamer Ball," and its big special teams play. The approach worked as the Gamecocks pulled away from Georgia State with 23 unanswered points in the second half. The Gamecocks returned two blocked punts for touchdowns, new placekicker Mitch Jeter debuted by knocking two field goals of 50-plus yards and long snapper Hunter Rogers carried a fake field goal 5 yards for a first down that led to the Gamecocks' only first-half touchdown.

New quarterback Spencer Rattler took in a key two-point conversion in the third quarter to restore South Carolina's lead and it was just enough to squeak past a determined Panthers' squad that held a brief third-quarter advantage, 14-12. The back-breaker also came in the third, when Rashad Amos blocked a Georgia State punt and DQ Smith retrieved the carom and ran it in for a touchdown. Rattler, the former Heisman Trophy contender at Oklahoma, showed off his dynamic playmaking ability. He finished 23 of 37 passing for 226 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions. - South Carolina/AP College Football

rSr/2024

QB Spencer Rattler, South Carolina
News Source: South Carolina/AP College Football
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09/01/22 - Josh Vann, rSr/2023, South Carolina + More +

2022 COACHES PRESEASON ALL-SEC THIRD TEAM: WR - Josh Vann, South Carolina,...Vann, a 5-11, 192-pound "Super Senior" from Tucker, Ga., was the Steve Spurrier Award winner as the team's offensive MVP in 2021. He caught 43 passes for 679 yards with five touchdowns. He enters the 2022 season with 90 career receptions, tying for 25th on the school's all-time list. - South Carolina Football

rSr/2023

WR Josh Vann, South Carolina
News Source: South Carolina Football
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09/01/22 - Zacch Pickens, Sr/2023, South Carolina + More +

2022 COACHES PRESEASON ALL-SEC SECOND TEAM: DL - Zacch Pickens, South Carolina,...The 6-4, 305-pound senior from Anderson, S.C., has appeared in 35 games over the past three seasons with 20 starts. He logged 38 tackles including four sacks a year ago. A member of the 2019 SEC Coaches' All-Freshman team and a regular on the SEC Academic Honor Roll, Pickens shared 2022 Rex Enright Defensive Player of the Spring honors with defensive back Cam Smith. - South Carolina Football

Sr/2023

DT Zacch Pickens, South Carolina
News Source: South Carolina Football
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09/01/22 - *Cam Smith, Jr/2023, South Carolina + More +

2022 COACHES PRESEASON ALL-SEC FIRST TEAM: DB - Cam Smith, South Carolina,...The 6-0, 188-pounder from Blythewood, S.C., earned second-team All-SEC honors from the Associated Press a year ago after leading the team with 14 passes defended, including three interceptions and 11 pass breakups. He allowed multiple catches in just two of 11 games played and only 15 catches on 32 targets throughout the season. He has been listed on multiple pre-season All-SEC and All-America teams and numerous watch lists this summer, including A.P. second-team All-America, the Jim Thorpe Award, Bronko Nagurski Trophy and Chuck Bednarik watch lists. - South Carolina Football

Jr/2023

CB *Cam Smith, South Carolina
News Source: South Carolina Football
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09/01/22 - *Cam Smith, Jr/2023, South Carolina + More +

ESPN TOP 100 PRESEASON 2022 CFB PLAYERS (Selected Aug. 17): No. 59. Cam Smith, CB, South Carolina, Junior. Notable 2021 stats: 41 tackles (31 solo), 3 INT. Last year's ranking: NR. He has emerged as a shutdown cornerback for South Carolina and a fascinating prospect for the 2023 NFL draft. Mel Kiper Jr. ranks Smith as the No. 2 draft-eligible cornerback and No. 20 overall prospect. Smith earned second-team All-SEC honors last season, when he started seven games and allowed multiple catches just twice in 11 contests. - ESPN.com

Jr/2023

CB *Cam Smith, South Carolina
News Source: ESPN.com
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08/31/22 - Spencer Rattler, rSr/2024, South Carolina + More +

ESPN TOP 100 PRESEASON 2022 CFB PLAYERS (Selected Aug. 17): No. 78. Spencer Rattler, QB, South Carolina, Junior. Notable 2021 stats: 1,493 yards, 11 TD in 9 games. Last year's ranking: 1. He may have gone from Heisman favorite to second-stringer at Oklahoma last year, but his numbers are still top-notch: a 70% career completion rate, 4,595 career passing yards and 40 touchdowns to only 12 interceptions. His ceiling remains immense as he enters the second act of his college football career. - ESPN.com

rSr/2024

QB Spencer Rattler, South Carolina
News Source: ESPN.com
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08/27/22 - *Jadeveon Clowney, Jr/2014, South Carolina + More +

Cleveland Browns defensive end Jadeveon Clowney will have his college jersey retired at South Carolina's season opener with Georgia State on Sept. 3. The school announced the retirement of Clowney's No. 7 on Friday. "We are excited to honor one of our greatest Gamecock football players ever," South Carolina athletic director Ray Tanner said. Clowney, from Rock Hill, was the country's top recruit when he signed on with the Gamecocks and coach Steve Spurrier in 2011. Clowney lived up to his billing. He was twice named an AP All-American, won the Ted Hendricks Award as the nation's top defensive end in 2012 and helped the Gamecocks go 11-2 each of his three seasons. - AP College Football

Jr/2014

DE *Jadeveon Clowney, South Carolina
News Source: AP College Football
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08/22/22 - Dakereon Joyner, rSr/2024, South Carolina + More +

2022 PRESEASON ALLSTATE AFCA GOOD WORKS TEAM NOMINEE: Dakereon Joyner, University of South Carolina,...Joyner, a 6-1, 215-pound redshirt senior from North Charleston, S.C., is a versatile, all-purpose performer who excels with the ball in his hands. He caught a career-high 24 passes for 221 yards a year ago, and is coming off an MVP performance in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl as a quarterback, where he completed all nine of his pass attempts for 160 yards and a touchdown and ran 10 times for 64 yards. - South Carolina Football

rSr/2024

RB Dakereon Joyner, South Carolina
News Source: South Carolina Football
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08/21/22 - Jordan Strachan, rSr/2024, South Carolina + More +

South Carolina's home opener against Georgia State doesn't just serve as the team's season debut. It's a bit of a reunion for one Gamecock. Jordan Strachan played his first season with USC last year, transferring in from Georgia State. He learned about the scheduled matchup against his former team midway through the 2021 season - at that point, however, he was leaning toward leaving the Gamecocks and trying his hand at pro football. Strachan (pronounced STRAHN) had one more year of eligibility and kept the game against Georgia State in mind when deciding to exercise his option for another year in college. "That played a part in it, for sure," Strachan said. "I just feel like I'm supposed to be a part of that game." While playing for the Panthers, Strachan led the FBS in sacks during his junior year with 10.5. The edge that he and his former teammates played with, he said, was fueled by Georgia State not having the same resources of a Power Five college like USC.

As an SEC school, South Carolina has advantages with facilities, recruiting and other factors to keep the program competitive. "All of us were hungry," Strachan said. "We're not the five-stars, the four-stars. So I just brought that over, that type of attitude." That mentality is evident to his current team, specifically Defensive coordinator Clayton White. White commended Strachan for returning as a "super senior" and getting the chance to enhance his game. Now, with a year of SEC football under his belt, Strachan still carries that competitive mindset with him. "He made a name for himself in that Group of Five level, but I think there's a competitive nature in him that wants to show that, 'I can do it at this level as well," White said. - Rock Hill Herald

rSr/2024

DE Jordan Strachan, South Carolina
News Source: Rock Hill Herald
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08/20/22 - Robby Ashford, rSr/2025, South Carolina + More +

When it comes to Auburn's quarterback competition, linebacker Wesley Steiner sees a lot of one former Auburn quarterback in Robby Ashford. "A lot like Bo Nix, Robby is a pain in the butt," Steiner said Tuesday. "I'm not gonna lie." Steiner - who's set to help fill the void left by former Auburn linebackers Zakoby McClain and Chandler Wooten - was asked about the Tigers' quarterback battle, and the comparison to Auburn's previous three-year starter was the first thing he mentioned. While working on the defensive side, it's a frustrating thing to see Ashford scramble out during practices, Steiner said, as he's difficult to contain. "It's just like, 'OK, are we doing what we need to do so we can't keep these actual yards that we don't want them to have as a defense?' And that was one thing with Bo Nix is once he gets moving, it's hard to get an angle on him because you don't expect them to be so fast. "Robby to me, he moves just as quickly. I remember at one practice, I ran right by him and I felt the wind rush past my ears after I rushed by him. So, you know, he's fast."

In three seasons at Auburn, Nix passed for 7,251 yards and 39 touchdowns, while also rushing for 859 yards and another 18 scores. After Nix entered the portal and committed to Oregon in December, Auburn and the Ducks theoretically swapped quarterbacks, as the Hoover native Ashford transferred to Auburn in January. In two seasons at Oregon, Ashford didn't see the football field, but he was a dual-sport athlete, roaming the outfield for the baseball program. Ashford was a four-star recruit coming out of high school and threw for 1,088 yards in six games as a senior at Hoover High School. - Opelika-Auburn News

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