South Carolina Football: Six Gamecocks make preseason All-SEC list
By Kevin Miller
South Carolina football has had numerous players (and two coaches) included on preseason All-SEC and All-American lists this offseason.
On Monday, that trend continued as six Gamecocks were selected by Pro Football Focus as members of their All-SEC squad.
PFF’s All-SEC team included three teams (a 1st-team, a 2nd-team, and a 3rd-team), and Gamecock quarterback Spencer Rattler, wide receiver Antwane “Juice” Wells, safety Nick Emmanwori, punter Kai Kroeger, defensive lineman Tonka Hemingway, and kicker Mitch Jeter received the honor of being placed on PFF’s preseason list.
Spencer Rattler was projected as the 2nd-team All-SEC quarterback by PFF. Only LSU’s Jayden Daniels was ranked higher than Rattler at the quarterback position. Arkansas Razorback KJ Jefferson took the third-team spot.
Wide receiver Juice Wells was also on the 2nd-team alongside Muhsin Muhammad III (Texas A&M) and Ladd McConkey (Georgia). Dominic Lovett (Georgia; transferred in from Missouri), Malik Nabers (LSU), and Zakhari Franklin (transferred in from the University of Texas-San Antonio) were the 1st-team wideouts.
Nick Emmanwori was a Freshman All-American in 2022 and is projected to the 2nd-team All-SEC according to PFF along with Vanderbilt’s CJ Taylor. Texas A&M’s Demani Richardson and Georgia’s Malaki Starks made the 1st-team.
Somehow, punter Kai Kroeger was not selected for the 1st-team but made the 2nd-team. Texas A&M punter Constantinou was ranked ahead of Kroeger on the 1st-team.
On the 3rd-team, South Carolina football defensive lineman Tonka Hemingway was chosen as an All-SEC performer. Hemingway, who plays both inside and outside for the Gamecocks, was selected by PFF as an All-SEC 3rd-team member as an interior lineman with Deone Walker from Kentucky. Mekhi Wingo (1st-team, LSU), Nazir Stackhouse (1st-team, Georgia), Walter Nolen (2nd-team, Texas A&M), and Justin Rogers (2nd-team, Auburn) were placed ahead of Hemingway.
Also on the 3rd-team, Gamecock kicker Mitch Jeter (who was perfect on field goal tries in 2022) was honored. Only Harrison Mevis (1st-team, Missouri) and Will Reichard (2nd-team, Alabama) were considered as better options at placekicker than Jeter.