Sack record would be amazing but Kyle Kennard focused on wins
South Carolina senior EDGE Kyle Kennard paused and thought about the questions before answering.
Does he know his stats? Does he know Jadeveon Clowney’s single-season sack record?
“13, right?” Kennard smiled and responded in a Gamecock Club Hour interview on 107.5 The Game last week.
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Kennard has been a revelation for South Carolina this season, teaming up with Dylan Stewart and a host of other talented defensive linemen to create one of the country’s most feared pass rushes.
But it’s Kennard, under the tutelage of emerging superstar assistant Sterling Lucas, who has emerged as arguably the leader of the EDGE room in what will be his one year in Columbia.
Seven games into the season, the transfer from Georgia Tech is tied for the SEC lead in sacks with 8.5, putting him just five short of former All-American Jadeveon Clowney’s 2012 record with five games to play.
“I will say this, we have five games left,” Kennard said. “I want to win out these five, like whatever that looks like.
“Obviously, who would not want the chance to break the record? But if I have to sacrifice that amazing accomplishment to however that looks for us to win give games, that’s what I’m focused on.”
It’s the type of thing that athletes are supposed to say about individual accomplishments compared to team goals but when Kennard says it you believe it.
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[Win two tickets to the South Carolina-Texas A&M football game]
The Atlanta native who joined the program this past season is one of several impact transfers who have not only made huge impacts on the field for Clayton White’s revamped defense but have also emerged as leaders, despite what will be just a short time in the program.
“I think the guys who came in this past offseason just felt like we didn’t want to come in and make it seem like it was a business relationship or we were just independent contractors,” Kennard said. “We wanted to actually integrate ourselves with those guys. I felt like we’ve done a good job of doing that and it’s showing defensively on our side of the ball for sure.”
Kennard and his teammates have joined together to produce a defense that currently ranks 13th in the country in total defense, 22nd in scoring defense, and third in sacks.
With a huge matchup with No. 10 Texas A&M on deck, Kennard wants to finish his one season in Columbia and college career with wins.
Five more wins or five more sacks? Kennard is taking the wins without hesitation. But why not both?
“Now, back to what you were saying, yes I do — I’d be a liar if I said I didn’t look and want to do things like (the sack record),” he said. “I mean, of course I do pay attention to it somewhat; I try not to.”
