Best performances through the first six weeks
The Gamecocks have hit the midpoint of the season at 4-2 (1-2 SEC) with a few good performances through the first six weeks. Here’s a look at some of them.
Marshawn Lloyd vs. Charlotte
After a rough first few games in the rushing attack, this was by far and away the best performance of the season on the ground.
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Lloyd finished with a career-high 169 yards and scored three times. He averaged a whopping 11.3 yards per carry.
That performance becomes just the second time since 2000 a South Carolina running back has scored three times and averaged at least 11 yards per carry against an FBS team. Marcus Lattimore (Troy, 2010) was the other. Kevin Harris also did it against FCS Charleston Southern.
As it stands right now, that performance helped springboard a Gamecocks’ rushing attack the last few weeks.
Juice Wells at Arkansas
Going into this season, only four South Carolina receivers since 2000 have caught eight passes for at least 180 yards in a single game. Pharoh Cooper and Deebo Samuel each did it twice, Alshon Jeffery and Sidney Rice also did it.
Wells became the fifth. He caught eight passes for 189 yards, including a 62-yard touchdown catch-and-run in what was his breakout game this season. It was one of the better receiving performances in recent memory at South Carolina.
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Lloyd at Kentucky
Spencer Rattler had a good second half in Lexington but Lloyd had a more consistent game overall en route to a big win over a ranked opponent.
The Gamecocks’ running back had 110 yards against Kentucky’s defense built to stop the run, averaging 5.0 yards per carry and a score. He also caught two passes for 31 yards. The biggest play of the day, a Jalen Brooks touchdown run, was set up by an explosive Lloyd run in the fourth quarter.
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Tonka Hemingway at Kentucky
Yes, he had the big fumble return to nearly the goal line to set up a score. But he had another really good day for the Gamecocks up front. Hemingway finished with four tackles and 1.5 sacks in what was a pretty good day for South Carolina’s defensive front.
Hemingway is coming into his own this season and his game at Kentucky was one of the better ones of his career.
Nick Emmanwori at Arkansas
The midseason freshman All-American had his coming out party in Fayetteville. It wasn’t a good day for South Carolina overall but Emmanwori finished with 11 tackles and had a few big openfield stops despite the loss.
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He followed it up with a 14-tackle performance against Georgia and has been the biggest positive on South Carolina’s defense this season.
Zacch Pickens at Arkansas
Yes, it was a bad day for the Gamecocks overall, but Pickens had 12 tackles and played arguably the best game of his career in that game.
The Razorbacks had a big day on the ground, but Pickens’ numbers indicate one of the better defensive performances of the season.
