South Carolina Football: Ranking the top-15 offensive performances in Gamecock history
By Kevin Miller
South Carolina Football’s No. 5 Greatest Offensive Performance of All-Time:
Pharoh Cooper vs. Tennessee
A defensive back recruit who Steve Spurrier quickly moved to offense, Pharoh Cooper was a gadget player in 2013 as a freshman but really came on in his second year in the South Carolina football program. Cooper established himself as the best receiver for a high-powered offense in 2014 and put together one of the top seasons from a Gamecock wideout in program history.
Against Tennessee that season, the speedy #11 scored a touchdown in all four quarters of the game. It started with an 11-yard wildcat run in the opening quarter, but in the 2nd period, Cooper completed a 30-yard passing touchdown to running back Brandon Wilds, the second time in their careers that they had hooked up for a passing score. In the second half, Cooper caught two touchdowns with a 12-yard score in the 3rd quarter and a long 85-yard catch and run in the 4th.
Cooper’s final line read 11 catches for 233 yards receiving and 2 touchdowns, 3 rushes for 23 yards and 1 rushing touchdown, and 1 completion for 30 yards and a passing touchdown. 286 yards, 4 scores, 11 different 1st-down conversions, and a ridiculous diving catch somehow weren’t enough for the Carolina defense as the Gamecocks fell in overtime after blowing a late, two-score lead.