South Carolina’s all-decade football team: Connor Shaw, Clowney and who else?
We pick the best of the best for South Carolina football from the 2010-19 seasons.
Offense
QB: Connor Shaw
The numbers: Threw for 6,074 yards, 56 touchdowns and 16 interceptions. He won a record 26 games as a starting QB.
Why him: He’s just the most successful quarterback in the history of the program who led the team during its brightest era. He was a threat as a runner, rounded out into a passer good enough to throw 24 touchdowns to one interception as a senior and provided a level of toughness and leadership.
QB: Jake Bentley
The numbers: Finished with 7,527 passing yards, 55 TDs, 32 interceptions. Posted the second-most TDs and third-most yards for a single season in program history in 2018.
Why him: It’s between him and Dylan Thompson, and Bentley’s longer track record wins out. He was vital in saving the 2016 season as a true freshman who should have been in high school, won nine games as a sophomore and put up big numbers has a junior. That edges Thompson, who had big moments earlier in his career and one statistically big season after he finally got the starting job.
RB: Marcus Lattimore
The numbers: Ran for 2,677 yards and 37 touchdowns in 29 games. Also caught 74 passes for 767 yards and three scores.
Why him: He’s fifth on the school’s all-time rushing list despite basically only playing the equivalent of two full seasons. He helped launch the greatest era in program history, anchored the run to an SEC East title and served as an inspirational figure and ambassador for the program.
RB: Mike Davis
The numbers: Ran for 2,440 yards and 22 touchdowns with 70 catches and 755 yards from 2012-2014.
Why him: This decade hasn’t seen many bell-cow tailbacks for South Carolina, but Davis certainly qualifies. He took over after Lattimore left and posted the fourth-best rushing season in program history in 2013.
WR: Alshon Jeffery
The numbers: Caught 183 balls for 3,042 yards and 23 touchdowns from 2009-11.
Why him: His 2010 season is the gold standard for the Gamecocks: 1,517 yards on 88 catches. He had 17 scores his final two years and anchored two teams that won a combined 20 games.
WR: Pharoh Cooper
The numbers: Ended his career with 138 catches, 2,163 yards and 18 scores. Also ran for 513 yards and four touchdowns from 2013-15
Why him: He holds two of the seven best seasons in school history for receiving yardage. He was a game-changer as both a pass catcher and a runner and delivered some big plays in his time. He kept up USC’s stellar run of receivers through really the past two decades.
WR: Bryan Edwards
The numbers: From 2016-20, caught 234 passes for 3,045 yards and 22 touchdowns. Started 48 games from 2016-19.
Why him: It speaks to the Gamecocks’ depth of stars at the position that he was battling for a number three spot. All he did was set program records for yards and catches for a career, started every game he was healthy for and was part of three bowl teams.
All-purpose: Deebo Samuel
The numbers: Posted 148 receptions, 2,076 yards and 18 receiving touchdowns from 2015-18. Added seven rushing touchdowns on 25 career carries and a school-record for kickoff return touchdowns.
Why him: Deebo was one of the best bang-for-the-buck players USC had. He was a dynamic receiver despite not being the tallest player, added an extra dimension on jet sweep runs and changed the way opponents manage their kickoff game. He did all this playmaking despite only playing in 30 of 41 possible games in his career.
OL: A.J. Cann
The numbers: Anchored the front for some of the best offensive lines in program history from 2011-14, earning all-conference and All-American nods as a senior.
Why him: He started at guard for four years, paving the way for the offenses of three consecutive 11-win teams. He ended up a third-round NFL Draft pick and has done well at that level too.
OL: Corey Robinson
The numbers: A three-year starter from 2012-14.
Why him: The massive Robinson made the transition from defensive line to offensive line early in his career and paired with Cann on a strong front. He was drafted in the seventh round and carved out a few years in the NFL, starting nine games.
OL: Zack Bailey
The numbers: Made 38 starts in 46 games from 2015-18, spanning three positions. Was named second-team all-SEC as a senior.
Why him: He helped his team where needed every step of the way and had a case as the team’s best lineman in the second half of the decade. He was thrown into action at center as a freshman, spent his sophomore and senior seasons at guard, and filled in at right tackle in 2017.
OL: Dennis Daley
The numbers: Gave South Carolina two strong seasons at left tackle in 2017 and 2018.
Why him: A local product who had to go to junior college, he stepped into the lineup a few games into the 2017 season, and never gave up the position when healthy. He ended up getting drafted by the Carolina Panthers and started some games as a rookie.
OL: T.J. Johnson
The numbers: Started a school-record 53 games in a career that included the first three seasons of the decade. Earned second-team all-conference honors as a senior in 2012.
Why him: He was an interior presence for some of the strong offensive fronts early in the decade. He earned a spot on the All-SEC team and went on to play 45 games in the NFL as a seventh round draft pick.
TE: Hayden Hurst
The numbers: Caught 100 passes for 1,281 yards and three touchdowns for 2015-17. Had 616 and 599 yards his last two seasons.
Why him: The Gamecocks had several solid tight end in the decade, but none could match the numbers of Hurst in either of his two starting seasons. His production might not have even matched his then-still developing talent, but the first-round NFL Draft pick was prolific and parts of teams that won six and nine games, setting receiving records for his position.
Special teams
Specialist: Ace Sanders
The numbers: Returned 53 punts for an average of 11.2 yards each with three touchdowns from 2010-12.
Why him: With Deebo Samuel appearing elsewhere on the list, we put Sanders here. He was a dangerous and speedy returner and his three scores came in key games. His first helped USC rally from down 17 points against ECU. His second came in the midst of a dominant win against Georgia in 2012. His last put USC ahead in the fourth quarter of a wild bowl game against Michigan.
PK: Elliott Fry
The numbers: 66 for 88 on field goals, 161-162 on extra points, 359 career points from 2013-16.
Why him: A four-year starter, he set the program record for points, hit several big kicks along the way and was part of Steve Spurrier’s final 11-2 team and Will Muschamp’s first team, earning Muschamp’s first win with a 55-yarder.
Punter: Joseph Charlton
The numbers: Career average of 45.5 yards. Only 11 touchbacks in 171 punts, 59 inside the 20 and 59 longer than 50 yards from 2015-19.
Why him: He had a booming leg and was named the team’s top special-teamer in three years starting. He earned one All-SEC nod and helped USC finish 19th, 12th and 11th in net punting.
Defense
DL: Melvin Ingram
The numbers: Posted 111 tackles, 30 1/2 for loss and 21 1/2 sacks with two interceptions and a forced fumble from 2008-11.
Why him: His two seasons this decade were his best, when he was a wrecking ball on a pair of strong USC defenses. He had nine sacks as a junior and 10 as a senior, earning an All-American nod as a senior.
DL: Jadeveon Clowney
The numbers: 129 tackles, 47 for loss, 24 sacks, seven pass break-ups, nine forced fumbles from 2011-13.
Why him: One of the finest defensive players ever to suit up at USC, he was a two-time All-American and came in sixth in Heisman voting as a sophomore. He was a force from the start, a force on teams that won 33 games and went on to be the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft.
DL: Javon Kinlaw
The numbers: 93 tackles, 18 for loss, 10 1/2 sacks from 2017-19
Why him: A disruptor and defensive anchor in the middle, Kinlaw was impactful as a sophomore, good as a junior and flat-out great as a senior. He made several All-American teams, consistently made plays and humbled a strong Georgia offensive line in an upset of the No. 3 team in the country at the time.
DL: Devin Taylor
The numbers: 161 tackles, 35 1/2 for loss, 18 1/2 sacks, two interceptions, six pass breakups from 2008-12
Why him: With a lot of options, he emerges from the crowded field. He was a partner in crime with Ingram and Clowney, adding a lot in the pass rush for some good defenses. He was once named All-SEC and managed 15 sacks in the NFL.
LB: Skai Moore
The numbers: 351 tackles, 20 for loss, five sacks, 14 interceptions, three pass break-ups from 2013-17.
Why him: He led the team in tackles four times and interceptions multiple times. His uncommon coverage ability allowed him to tie the school record for interceptions in a career. He spanned the last great Spurrier team to the best Muschamp team and twice earned All-SEC honors (first team as a senior).
LB: Shaq Wilson
The numbers: 246 tackles, 15 for loss, 4 sacks, 4 interceptions from 2008-12
Why him: A five-year member of the program, he had 52 tackles in 2011 and 86 in 2012 (he was injured in 2010). A heavy-hitter, he was in the middle of several good Gamecocks groups.
DB: Stephon Gilmore
The numbers: 181 tackles, 15 for loss, seven sacks, eight interceptions from 2009-11
Why him: A shutdown corner and vital part of two of the better USC defenses of the modern era. He was first-team All-SEC in 2010 and 2011 and an All-American his last year. He went on to an All-Pro NFL career.
DB: D.J. Swearinger
The numbers: 244 tackles, 6 1/2 for loss, six interceptions from 2009-12
Why him: Not only was he a productive player, but he was a tone-setter on the back end as a ferocious hitter. His plays against Clemson are the stuff of USC legend.
DB: Antonio Allen
The numbers: 198 tackles, 20 for loss, 3.5 sacks, four interceptions from 2008-11
Why him: A safety his last two years, he still managed to make run stops behind the line and earn second-team All-SEC honors his final season.
DB: Jaycee Horn
The numbers: 85 tackles, 6 for loss, three sacks, 17 pass break-ups, two forced fumbles in 2018 and 2019
Why him: He was arguably South Carolina’s top defensive back the moment his first season began and was pretty good for most of his sophomore year.
DB: Vic Hampton
The numbers: 105 tackles, 8 for loss, five interceptions, 12 pass break-ups from 2011-13
Why him: He had some strong stretches in coverage and stepped up as the team’s most productive defensive back (three interceptions, nine pass break-ups) after Swearinger left following the 2012 season.
LB/DB: DeVonte Holloman
The numbers: 207 tackles, 15 for loss, two sacks, seven interceptions from 2009-2012
Why him: Whether he played linebacker, safety or Spur, he was usually around the ball and usually productive. His final season was all-around productive. He was key to the defensive run his final three years and was taken in the sixth round of the NFL draft.
