South Carolina football puts three on Freshman All-American team

On Tuesday, the Football Writer’s Association of America (FWAA) announced its Freshman All-American team. Three South Carolina football stars earned recognition as LaNorris Sellers, Josiah Thompson, and Dylan Stewart all made the squad.

Sellers, a redshirt freshman in 2024, had a record-setting first year as the starting quarterback in garnet and black. The FWAA selection is not his first honor of the offseason as he has received All-SEC, SEC Freshman of the Year, Freshman All-SEC, and Freshman All-American honors from other outlets.

Thompson, a true freshman this fall, started every game at left tackle in which he was healthy. On3 recognized Thompson as a True Freshman All-American in his first season.

Stewart, who also was a true freshman this season, was one of the best pass rushers in the country. He partnered with Nagurski Trophy-winner Kyle Kennard to present the SEC’s top 1-2 punch at defensive end this season. Stewart earned other Freshman All-SEC and Freshman All-American honors, as well.

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From the South Carolina Athletics press release:

University of South Carolina football placed a school-record three players on the 2024 Freshman All-America team as selected by the Football Writers of America (FWAA), it was announced today.

Gamecocks earning spots on the FWAA Freshman All-America squad are quarterback LaNorris Sellers, offensive lineman Josiah Thompson and defensive lineman Dylan Stewart. All three were named to the SEC Coaches’ All-Freshman team in December.

Sellers, a 6-3, 242-pound redshirt freshman from Florence, S.C., was previously named to the third-team All-SEC squad and was recognized as the SEC Freshman of the Year by the league’s coaches. He completed 65.6 percent of his passes (196-for-299) for 2,534 yards and 18 touchdowns. He added 166 carries for 674 yards and seven scores in his first year as the starting signal-caller for the Gamecocks.

Thompson, a 6-7, 300-pound true freshman from Dillon, S.C., started all 12 games in which he appeared in 2024 at the left tackle position, protecting Sellers’ blind side. The 2023 South Carolina Mr. Football recipient, Thompson was previously named to the On3.com True Freshman All-America team.

Stewart, a 6-6, 248-pounder from Washington, D.C., recorded 23 tackles in 2024 including 10.5 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks. He was credited with four quarterback hurries, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. He was previously named the On3.com Defensive True Freshman of the Year and joined Thompson on its True Freshman All-America team. He was a finalist for the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award and was recognized as the Alexander Freshman of the Week twice, following his performances against Old Dominion and again against Texas A&M.

Previous Gamecocks named to the FWAA Freshman All-America team, which began in 2001, reads like a “Who’s Who” of ‘Gamecock Greats’ including Ko Simpson (2004), Sidney Rice (2005), Eric Norwood (2006), Alshon Jeffery (2009), Marcus Lattimore (2010) and Jadeveon Clowney (2011).

The freshman trio helped South Carolina to a 9-4 record, winning nine regular season games for just the fifth time in school history. The Gamecocks recorded a school-record four wins against ranked opponents, including three in consecutive weeks as part of a regular season-ending six-game winning streak.

FWAA FRESHMAN ALL-AMERICA TEAM

OFFENSE
QB DJ Lagway, Florida
QB LaNorris Sellers, South Carolina
RB Ahmad Hardy, ULM
RB Bryson Washington, Baylor
WR Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State
WR Bryant Wesco Jr., Clemson
WR Ryan Williams, Alabama
TE Mason Williams, Ohio
OL Aidan Banfield, North Carolina
OL Tyler Mercer, North Texas
OL Elijah Paige, Southern California
OL Tyson Ruffins, Nevada
OL Jordan Seaton, Colorado
OL Josiah Thompson, South Carolina

DEFENSE
DL Jamarioius Brown, Ole Miss
DL Jayden Jackson, Oklahoma
DL Colin Simmons, Texas
DL Dylan Stewart, South Carolina
LB Sammy Brown, Clemson
LB Isaiah Chisom, Oregon State
LB Josiah Trotter, West Virginia
CB OJ Frederique Jr., Miami
CB Ashton Hampton, Clemson
CB Leonard Moore, Notre Dame
S KJ Bolden, Georgia
S Koi Perich, Minnesota
S Zechariah Poyser, Jax State

SPECIALISTS
K Nolan Hauser, Clemson
P Rhys Dakin, Iowa
KR Samuel Singleton Jr., Florida State
PR Kam Shanks, UAB
AP Isaac Brown, Louisville

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