Three South Carolina Gamecocks make FWAA All-American team as USC ties for national lead

On Tuesday, the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) announced its All-American team. Three Gamecocks made the cut as Kyle Kennard, Nick Emmanwori, and Kai Kroeger were honored. Kennard made the 1st team, while Emmanwori and Kroeger were 2nd teamers.

2024 was Kennard’s only season in garnet and black, but he made it count. The former Georgia Tech standout led the SEC in both sacks (11.5) and tackles for loss (16) and picked up SEC Defensive Player of the Year honors from the AP and the SEC coaches.

Emmanwori had his best year as a Gamecock. Adding to his already-elite tackling ability, the Columbia-area native put together a strong year in coverage, as well. He led the Gamecocks in tackles and interceptions.

Kroeger had a great year for new special teams coordinator Joe DeCamillis. With some stats better than his 2022 All-American campaign, Kroeger was an easy choice to make another All-American squad.

This is the first time that South Carolina football has put three on the FWAA All-American team. No team in the country had more 2024 FWAA All-Americans.

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From the South Carolina Athletics press release:

Three University of South Carolina players earned spots on the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) All-America football teams, it was announced today.

Senior defensive end Kyle Kennard earned first-team honors, while defensive back Nick Emmanwori and punter Kai Kroeger were named to the second-team unit. South Carolina was one of three schools, joining Iowa and Alabama, to place three players on the FWAA All-America teams.

Kennard, a 6-5, 254-pound senior from Atlanta, Ga., posted 15.5 tackles for loss including 11.5 sacks during the 2024 season. Both marks led the Southeastern Conference, and his sack total ranked sixth in the nation. His single-season sack total also ranks second in school history behind Jadeveon Clowney’s 13.0 in 2012, while his tackles for loss total is the school’s fourth-highest single-season mark. Kennard was also credited with 10 quarterback hurries and forced three fumbles.

Kennard, who was recognized as the Nagurski Trophy winner, has been named a Walter Camp, AFCA and a Reese’s Senior Bowl first-team All-American and was a second-team selection by the Associated Press. He was both the Associated Press and the SEC Coaches’ choice as SEC Defensive Player of the Year and was a first-team All-SEC selection by the AP, the Coaches and the USA TODAY. He is a finalist for the Blanchard-Rogers Trophy, widely regarded as the “South Carolina Heisman” and has accepted an invitation to play in the 2025 Reese’s Senior Bowl.

Emmanwori, a 6-3, 227-pound junior from Irmo, S.C., led the Gamecocks with 83 tackles, 10th in the SEC this season, including 3.0 tackles for loss. He logged an SEC-leading four interceptions, returning two for touchdowns.

Emmanwori was a first-team All-American according to the Associated Press and the Reese’s Senior Bowl and was a second-team selection by the FWAA and CBS Sports. He has been a first-team All-SEC performer according to the league’s 16 coaches, the AP, USA TODAY and College Football Nation.

Kroeger, a 6-4, 213-pound senior from Lake Forest, Ill., led the SEC and ranked third in the country in punting average at 47.6-yards per punt, with 18 punts of 50 yards or more, including a long of 75 yards. He had 18 of his 45 punts land inside the 20-yard line with just six touchbacks.

Kroeger, a 2022 All-American, was a first-team All-SEC selection by the league’s 16 coaches in 2024 and a semifinalist for the Ray Guy Award. He was also selected by his peers as the Gamecocks’ Jim Calen MVP for Special Teams.

FIRST TEAM OFFENSE

QB Dillon Gabriel, Oregon (6-0, 200, Sr., Mililani, Hawaii)
RB Ashton Jeanty, Boise State (5-9, 215, Jr., Jacksonville, Fla.)
RB Kaleb Johnson, Iowa (6-0, 225, Jr., Hamilton, Ohio)
WR Harold Fannin, Bowling Green (6-4, 230, Jr., Canton, Ohio)
WR Nick Nash, San Jose State (6-3, 195, Sr., Irvine, Calif.)
TE Tyler Warren, Penn State (6-6, 261, Sr., Mechanicsville, Va.)
OL Kelvin Banks Jr., Texas (6-4, 320, Jr., Humble, Texas)
OL Will Campbell, LSU (6-6, 323, Jr., Monroe, La.)
OL Wyatt Milum, West Virginia (6-6, 317, Sr., Kenova, W. Va.)
OL Addison West, Western Michigan (6-3, 305, R-Sr., Cary, Ill.)
C Seth McLaughlin, Ohio State (6-4, 305, Gr., Buford, Ga.)

FIRST TEAM DEFENSE

DE Abdul Carter, Penn State (6-3, 252, Jr., Philadelphia, Pa.)
DE Kyle Kennard, South Carolina (6-5, 254, Sr., Atlanta, Ga.)
DT Mason Graham, Michigan (6-3, 320, Jr., Mission Viejo, Calif.)
DT Walter Nolen, Ole Miss (6-3, 305, Jr., Powell, Tenn.)
LB Shaun Dolac, Buffalo (6-1, 225, Gr., West Seneca, N.Y.)
LB Aiden Fisher, Indiana (6-1, 233, Jr., Fredericksburg, Va.)
LB Jay Higgins, Iowa (6-2, 232, Sr., Indianapolis, Ind.)
DB Jahdae Barron, Texas (5-11, 200, Sr., Austin, Texas)
DB Caleb Downs, Ohio State (6-0, 205, Jr., Hoschton, Ga.)
DB Malaki Starks, Georgia (6-1, 205, Jr., Jefferson, Ga.)
DB Nohl Williams, California (6-1, 200, Sr., Oxnard, Calif.)

FIRST TEAM SPECIALISTS

K Collin Rogers, SMU (6-4, 219, Jr., Prattville, Ala.)
P Alex Mastromanno, Florida State (6-1, 241, Sr., Melbourne, Australia)
KR Keelan Marion, BYU (6-0, 195, Jr., Atlanta, Ga.)
PR Kaden Wetjen, Iowa (5-10, 196, Sr., Williamsburg, Iowa)
AP Travis Hunter, Colorado (6-1, 185, Jr., Suwanee, Ga.)

SECOND TEAM OFFENSE: QB Cam Ward, Miami; RB Dylan Sampson, Tennessee; RB Cam Skattebo, Arizona State; WR Tetairoa McMillan, Arizona; WR Xavier Restrepo, Miami; TE Colston Loveland, Michigan; OL Tyler Booker, Alabama; OL Aireontae Ersery, Minnesota; OL Lucas Scott, Army West Point; OL Clay Webb, Jax State; C Parker Brailsford, Alabama.

SECOND TEAM DEFENSE: DE Mike Green, Marshall; DE Antwaun Powell-Ryland, Virginia Tech; DT Howard Cross III, Notre Dame; DT Derrick Harmon, Oregon; LB Jihaad Campbell, Alabama; LB Danny Stutsman, Oklahoma; LB Jackson Woodard, UNLV; DB Nick Emmanwori, South Carolina; DB D’Angelo Ponds, Indiana; DB Terrence Spence, James Madison; DB Xavier Watts, Notre Dame.

SECOND TEAM SPECIALISTS: K Kenneth Almendares, Louisiana; P Kai Kroeger, South Carolina; KR Winston Wright, East Carolina; PR Josh Cameron, Baylor; AP Desmond Reid, Pitt.

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