South Carolina specialists talk about replacing multiple starters
South Carolina football began its 2025 spring practice on Wednesday. It was the first day on the field for the Gamecocks as the team looks to answer several offseason questions and prepare to take the next step into the College Football Playoff after nearly cracking the 12-team tournament at the end of the 2024 season.
One of USC’s biggest–but least talked-about–questions this offseason is: “Can the Gamecocks replace their special teams starters?”
Punter (and holder) Kai Kroeger, kicker Alex Herrera, snapper Hunter Rogers, and returner Juju McDowell all graduated this winter. While other players factor into special teams success, especially on coverage units, special teams coordinator Joe DeCamillis will have to replace every first-team player at the most well-known positions on his units.
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Some of the candidates for the open gigs had a chance to speak to the media after practice on Wednesday.
Mason Love, a redshirt freshman on scholarship, has worked at kicker, punter, and holder this offseason. He told the media that he doesn’t have a preference but he will “give it my all” at any spot. Love credited Kroeger with giving him “a huge advantage” over a lot of other young punters. He said that Kroeger, a two-time All-American, “helped me a lot…how he carries himself when things are going good and then, when things aren’t going good, how he responds.” He added that he feels comfortable kicking field goals from “50 and in,” but he can hit from 60 if needed.
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Another potential factor in South Carolina’s kicking and punting battles is redshirt sophomore Peyton Argent. A walk-on, Argent also has a big leg and has practiced at both positions and as a holder. With most of his work coming at kicker, he told the media, “Right now, I feel really comfortable inside 55.” He also recognizes the importance of competing and supporting Love and William Joyce in that competition with good holding reps. (Incoming freshman Max Kelley will join those battles this summer.) As Argent explained on Wednesday, “That’s really important…[as teammates] you want everybody to look good.”
Redshirt senior Cole Rasmussen is back for a final season with the Gamecocks. After backing up Hunter Rogers for years, the walk-on will battle with true freshman Kyler Farrow, redshirt freshman Gunnar Yocum, and redshirt sophomore Jordan Franke. According to Rasmussen, the South Carolina special teams group is confident. “We all believe that we can be the guy. We’re doing the best we can in competing. We all feel that we can step up and fill Hunter’s shoes.” He didn’t provide any insight into the kicker and punter battles. However, he said that he feels confident Love, Argent, and Joyce “all can execute…to get the job done.”
Wide receiver Nyck Harbor also spoke to the media on Wednesday, but he kept his special teams comments brief. The junior speedster said with a laugh, “If Coach Joe D(eCamillis) puts me back there [at kick returner], I’m going to go back there.” Harbor was deep last year alongside McDowell but logged just one return on a trick play in the Citrus Bowl. He is one of a long list of Gamecocks who got kick return reps on Wednesday.
