The South Carolina Gamecocks continue to rack up postseason awards this week, with two players being named SEC Player of the Year on Wednesday. Quarterback LaNorris Sellers was named SEC Freshman of the Year, while EDGE Kyle Kennard picked up SEC Defensive Player of the Year honors.
Kennard Keeps Winning
This comes on the heels of Kennard being named the Bronko Nagurski Award winner on Monday. The Bronko Nagurski Award is given out annually by the Football Writer’s Association to the nation’s top defensive player. The senior transfer was also named to the all-SEC first-team defense, marking the first time any Gamecock has secured all three honors in the same season.
Kennard made a bet on himself when choosing to transfer last offseason, and it’s paid off in ways nobody expected. Along with the awards he’s secured, he’s also expected to be a first-round draft pick next spring. The transfer portal may not be perfect, but this is what it looks like at its best.
Sellers SEC’s Best Freshman
For Sellers, this looks to be the first of many accolades in what’s shaping up to be a special career in Garnet and Black. In his first season under center, Sellers threw for 2,274 yards, 17 touchdowns, and just seven interceptions while completing just under 65% of his passes. He also ran the ball 155 times compiling a further 655 yards and seven touchdowns on the ground.
This marks the first time since 2011 that a Carolina player has been named the best freshman in the conference. Gamecock legend Jadeveon Clowney won it the award then, and we all know how great he turned out to be. Sellers has quickly become everything Gamecocks fans hoped he would and then some. If he continues to improve there’s no telling where his ceiling will end up being.
Other Gamecock Selections
Along with Kennard, junior defensive back Nick Emmanwori was also named to the first-team all-SEC defense. Emmanwori led all Carolina defenders in interceptions with four, taking two of them back for touchdowns. Rounding out the first team selections for the Gamecocks, senior punter Kai Kroeger was named the first-team all-SEC punter.
Several other Carolina players were named to the second and third teams as well. Senior running back Rahiem Sanders was named to the all-SEC second team in his first seasob with the team. Sellers and senior offensive lineman Torricelli Simpkins III were both third-team selections as well.
Lastly, the Gamecocks also had three freshmen named to the Freshman all-SEC unit. The aforementioned Sellers, offensive lineman Josiah Thompson, and defensive lineman Dylan Stewart all received nods, giving Carolina the second-most selections.
Establishing a Culture
This was a very special Carolina team, and the awards and accolades are just further proof. They may have fallen just short of a playoff bid, but they’ve laid the foundation for something greater. Teams like this are the ones that lay the foundation for future success, and that’s exactly what they’ve done.
Carolina is firmly on the upswing following this season. With Sellers and company at the helm there’s no telling what heights they’ll reach. One things for certain however, the future is very bright in Columbia, South Carolina.
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