South Carolina football has had several players included on preseason award watch lists, and there are likely more to come.
Long snapper Hunter Rogers was placed on the Patrick Mannelly Award preseason watch list, while Antwane “Juice” Wells and Spencer Rattler made the watch list for the Maxwell Award. Nick Emmanwori was also included on the Nagurski Award watch list as one of college football’s top defensive players.
On Tuesday, Tonka Hemingway joined them as the defensive lineman was one of 91 players put on the Outland Trophy preseason watch list. The athletic defensive tackle has played significant snaps on the EDGE, as well, and Hemingway could see more snaps out wide in 2023 due to depth issues for the Gamecocks at defensive end.
The Outland Trophy is given annually to the top interior lineman on either offense or defense. That means that the trophy is handed out to offensive tackles, guards, and centers and defensive tackles. Full-time defensive ends and other EDGE players and tight ends are not eligible for the award.
Hemingway has battled injuries some during his career as a Gamecock but has been outrageously productive when healthy and on the field. His numbers don’t necessarily pop off the page in the traditional sense, but Hemingway is extremely disruptive and makes plays that lead to his teammates accumulating more stats.
Earlier this offseason, #91 had a minor surgical procedure that should lead him to be fully healthy for the September 2nd opener against North Carolina. One of South Carolina football’s three SEC Media Days representatives in July, Hemingway has also been included on a lot of outlet’s preseason All-SEC teams. If he is as healthy as Gamecock fans hope, that result seems likely.
South Carolina football has never had a player win the Outland Trophy, though several players have been nominated for the watch list. Most recently, offensive tackle Dylan Wonnum was on the 2022 watch list for the prestigious award.