Now healthy, Carson Hornung, Caleb Denny will be 'big-time' contributors in 2023
South Carolina fans and coaches didn’t get to see two of the Gamecocks’ biggest pieces offensively for most of the fall.
Projected starters Carson Hornung and Caleb Denny spent the majority, if not all, of the scrimmage slate on the shelf dealing with different injuries.
Now, back healthy, their presences have been worth the wait with preseason scrimmages looming.
•Subscribe to Gamecock Central until Aug. 31 for only $29.99
“They’re right there in the running. I think most good teams have good, left-handed power,” Mark Kingston said. “And they’re two of the best along with (Gavin) Casas in terms of pure left-handed power. Unless something crazy happens you’re looking at those guys being big-time contributors.”
Hornung was the only one of the two who even got to swing a bat in the fall before a hamstring injury kept him out of the last half of scrimmages. Denny could only shag balls at the tail end after an offseason arm procedure.
Hornung comes back for his second season with the Gamecocks, ready to jump from role player to now a full-fledged, middle-of-the-order starter.
•Become a NIL supporter of your South Carolina Gamecocks!
He slashed .209/.342/.297 in 111 plate appearances last season, walking 19 times to 23 strikes. He had a pair of homers with 11 RBI. Over the summer Hornung slashed .317/.449/.504 with three homers. He walked (32) more times than he struck out (27).
Denny is coming off a standout career at Oral Roberts, capped by his best college season yet. He hit .331/.389/.565 with double-digit homers and 57 RBI.
Exiting the fall, both were expected to contend for starting jobs. That talk hasn’t subsided through small group work this month.
Top 10
- 1Breaking
Deion Sanders violations
Coach Prime caught by NCAA
- 2
Pat Coogan
Notre Dame center entering Transfer Portal
- 3New
Top 25 QBs in CFB
Looking ahead to 2025 season
- 4
2025 Heisman Odds
The early front-runners are in
- 5Trending
Bill Belichick signs
UNC coach inks deal
Get the On3 Top 10 to your inbox every morning
By clicking "Subscribe to Newsletter", I agree to On3's Privacy Notice, Terms, and use of my personal information described therein.
“They’ve both been tremendous in the early goings. We haven’t played an intersquad scrimmage yet but we have had three pitcher-hitter matchups,” Kingston said. “Denny has three homers already just in probably 12 at-bats so far. We’re really excited about what he’s going to bring to the table.”
• Subscribe (for free) to the Gamecock Central YouTube page!
If both are in the field, Denny likely slots in at right field while Hornung could play left. Both could obviously DH if not healthy enough to play in the field. Both will be able to swing a bat by opening day.
They’ll each be part of a retooled offense the Gamecocks are hoping takes a step forward after a few years of struggle at the plate.
“I think we have a lot of good players, proven players, older and experienced players. They’re guys who’ve been in situations where they’ve had to prove themselves, whether it’s at this program or others,” Kingston said.
“We also have some very talented new guys…I just have a good feeling this will be a team that’s tough to pitch to. It’s going to have a left-right balance, a speed-power balance. I think we’re going to take really tough at-bats.”
