Gamecocks elect permanent captains for 2017

South Carolina has named its permanent football captains for the 2017 season, the school confirmed Sunday.

▪  Senior linebacker Skai Moore: His 88 total tackles are a team high. Moore is set to finish his Gamecock career as the 15th player in Football Bowl Subdivision history to lead a team in tackles in four different seasons. Moore’s 14 career interceptions are tied for the school record. He was a first-team All-SEC selection by the league’s coaches and a second-teamer by The Associated Press.

▪  Junior tight end Hayden Hurst: He led all SEC tight ends with 41 receptions and 518 receiving yards during the 2017 regular season. Hurst scored three touchdowns. He enters the postseason as USC’s career leader among tight ends with 97 receptions and is second with 1,240 receiving yards. He was a first-team All-SEC pick by The Associated Press and the league’s coaches. Hurst will turn pro after the Gamecocks’ bowl game.

▪  Sophomore quarterback Jake Bentley: The sophomore started all 12 of the Gamecocks’ games, passing for 2,555 yards and completing 62.4 percent of his passes to go with 16 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. He led the team with six rushing touchdowns.

▪  Sophomore defensive lineman D.J. Wonnum: His 52 tackles from the Buck position were fourth on the team. He is third in the SEC and leads the team with 13 tackles for loss. His six sacks are a team high. He was twice named SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week.

The four will be featured in a portrait in South Carolina’s Hall of Captains at Williams-Brice Stadium. The team’s 2016 captains were Hurst, quarterback Perry Orth, linebacker T.J. Holloman and defensive lineman Marquavius Lewis.

The Gamecocks play Michigan in the Outback Bowl at noon Jan. 1. The game is on ESPN2.

This story was originally published December 17, 2017 at 2:03 PM with the headline "Gamecocks elect permanent captains for 2017."