South Carolina tight end announces he's stepping away from football
South Carolina Trae Kenion’s football career appears to be over.
The Gamecocks’ tight end announced on Instagram Thursday he was stepping away from football.
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“First, I’d like to thank God for giving me the opportunity to play the game I love since I was 4 years old. I want to thank Coach (Shane) Beamer for being a great coach and making my experience here unforgettable. To Gamecock Nation thank you for the amazing Saturdays in Wille B and your continuous support through thick and thin,” he wrote.
“I am a proud alumni of this University and have so many amazing memories here. I’ve been talking with my family and doing a lot of praying to decide what the best decision would be for my future. With that being said I have made the decision that I will be stepping away from football. #12 Out.”
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Kenion was a former four-star recruit, the No. 391 player in the country in the 2019 class.
He didn’t chisel out much of a role offensively over his three seasons. Kenion finished his Gamecock career with seven catches for 103 yards and two scores. Where he did make a massive impact was on special teams. He was a stalwart there, especially over the last two seasons.
He’s most remembered this season for scoring on a blocked punt early and having a few key receptions, one against Tennessee on a third down.
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With Kenion’s decision, it makes an already thin tight end room that much thinner.
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South Carolina already lost Austin Stogner and Jaheim Bell to the transfer portal and Chad Terrell is out for the year with an ACL injury. The only healthy scholarship tight end on the roster currently is Nate Adkins.
The Gamecocks will play Notre Dame in the Gator Bowl Dec. 30 at 3:30 p.m. South Carolina is expected to start bowl practice Dec. 15 and have roughly two week’s worth of practices before the game in Jacksonville.
It’s the first time these two programs have met since 1984, a come-from-behind South Carolina win at Notre Dame. A win would give the Gamecocks arguably their best season since the 2013 year, the final of three-straight 11-win seasons.
