Five Gamecocks who could earn preseason All-SEC honors
SEC Media Days is looming, and the Gamecocks get ready for its day in the sun Thursday.
At the end of the week, the annual list of preseason All-SEC teams get announced, and there will certainly be a few guys who earn recognition this year.
Here’s a look at a few who could earn some nominations this year.
Juice Wells
This is the most obvious pick offensively, an already All-SEC receiver coming back for one more season. Wells was one of the best receivers in the country over the final four weeks of the regular season with three 100-yard games.
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In those four games he caught 26 passes for 434 yards and four touchdowns with 20 of those catches, 308 yards and two of those scores coming in wins over Tennessee and Clemson.
Wells’ return should put him on at least one of the All-SEC teams next week and deservedly so.
Tonka Hemingway
Hemingway oddly flew under teh radar last year from a conference-wide perspective but was really vital for the Gamecocks. He was one of the best on the team in terms of generating pressure, affecting the quarterback and stopping the run.
The Gamecocks’ defensive lineman was also integral on special teams and should be the same again this year. He’s stepping into a bigger role going into 2024 and could garner some votes at SEC Media Days for those who closely pay attention to the defensive line.
Nick Emmanwori
A freshman All-American, Emmanwori burst onto the scene last year with 85 total tackles and one for loss. So it stands to reason one of the best freshmen in the SEC last season returning for year two after an offseason of getting better could earn defensive back votes.
He should again play a massive role for the Gamecocks in the secondary and it wouldn’t be surprising to see him get some votes as one of the more recognizable safety names in the SEC.
Kai Kroeger
Kroeger comes into the season arguably the best punter in the SEC and one of the favorites to win the Ray Guy award this season. Kroeger is coming off the best statistical season of his career and, if he does it again, could very easily be an All-SEC caliber player at the end of the year.
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He’ll get votes from those who know SEC special teams but also from voters who are looking at the numbers from last season.
Trey Knox
Knox is one of the more heralded transfers in the Gamecocks’ portal class and is coming off a productive year at Arkansas where he caught 26 balls for almost 300 yards and five touchdowns.
He’s going to be one of the bigger targets in South Carolina’s offense and could get some nods to a preseason All-SEC team.
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