Multiple Gamecocks selected to preseason All-SEC squads, SEC preseason media poll released
On Friday, the SEC released its preseason media poll and All-SEC team selections at the annual SEC Media Days in Dallas.
Five players from South Carolina were selected to the All-SEC squads. Rocket Sanders, Debo Williams and Hunter Rogers all made the second team on offense, defense and special teams, respectively. Tonka Hemingway and Nick Emmanwori were both named to the defensive third team.
Also announced on Friday was the SEC preseason media poll. The Gamecocks were selected to finish 13th overall in the conference standings. They also received one vote to win the SEC Championship.
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Here’s how the entire poll shaped out.
SEC PRESEASON MEDIA POLL
SEC Championship votes in ()
Georgia (165) 3330
Texas (27) 3041
Alabama (12) 2891
Ole Miss (4) 2783
LSU (2) 2322
Missouri 2240
Tennessee 2168
Oklahoma 2022
Texas A&M 1684
Auburn 1382
Kentucky 1371
Florida 1146
South Carolina (1) 923
Arkansas 749
Mississippi State 623
Vanderbilt (2) 293
Unlike years past, there will be no divisions in the SEC this season. So that means there will be no east and west sides. Instead, the top two teams in the overall standings will play in the conference championship game in December.
Last year, South Carolina was selected to finish third in the SEC East and garnered three votes to win the SEC Championship. After a 5-7 season in 2023, it looks like many voters have decided to not fully buy into the Gamecocks just yet.
“You know, I get it. 5-7 last year is not what anybody expected,” head coach Shane Beamer said at SEC Media Days. “We were here last year and somewhat of a feel-good story, and some of you guys were picking us to be a dark horse team in the SEC.”
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When speaking to the media on Monday, Beamer pointed out that he saw this coming. He knew the media would probably project the Gamecocks to finish lower in the conference this year, and he was right.
“I really, really, really like our football team going into 2024. Most of you don’t. That’s okay,” he said. “When you guys do your picks on Thursday, we’ll be picked 14th, 15th, or 16th, I’m sure. But I’m excited about this group.”
South Carolina opens the 2024 season on Saturday, Aug. 31 against Old Dominion at Williams-Brice Stadium. Kickoff is at 4:15 p.m. on SEC Network.
