COLUMBIA, S.C. (WSPA) – Six Gamecocks Named to All-SEC Squads

Six football players at the University of South Carolina have been named to the Athlon’s Preseason All-SEC teams, as announced Friday. Athlon Sports shared its 2024 SEC all-conference teams in their preseason magazines. Six Gamecocks were selected including three defensive players, two offensive players, and one special teams player.

Defensive Standouts

On the defensive side of the ball, defensive lineman Tonka Hemingway, linebacker Debo Williams, and safety Nick Emmanwori were all selected to the second team. Hemingway, a 6-foot-3, 295-pound graduate student from Conway, has started 17 games over the past four seasons while appearing in 48. Williams, a 6-foot-1, 235-pound senior from Symrna, Delaware, led the Gamecocks in 2023 with 113 tackles and was named as a team captain. Emmanwori, a 6-foot-3 junior from Irmo, earned a Freshman All-American selection in 2022.

Offensive Stars

Running back Raheim Sanders received a third-team selection after transferring from the University of Arkansas, where he earned first-team All-SEC honors in 2022. Offensive lineman Vershon Lee, a redshirt senior from Woodbridge, Virginia, earned a spot on the fourth team for his versatility on the offensive line.

Special Teams Ace

Kai Kroeger was selected as a punter on the fourth team. The graduate student has been the Gamecocks’ punter for five seasons and earned All-American honors in 2022.

The Gamecocks begin their season with a home game against Old Dominion on August 31 at 4:15 p.m.