South Carolina Football: Gamecock specialist named to preseason award watch list

Since head coach Shane Beamer and special teams coordinator Pete Lembo have arrived in Columbia, the South Carolina football team has been known for its elite special teams.

Punter Kai Kroeger is the best in the nation, kicker Mitch Jeter has never missed a field goal, Xavier Legette took a kick back for a 100-yard score last season, Josh Vann led the SEC in punt return average in 2022, and the Gamecocks were among the best kick/punt coverage and kick/punt block units in the nation last fall.

The Gamecocks have also become well-known for their special teams trick plays. Punter Kai Kroeger is 6-6 passing in his career with 3 touchdowns and 3 more first downs. Fake punts and fake field goals are constant threats when teams face off against Lembo’s units.

As much as Lembo, Kroeger, Jeter, and others have become some of the most recognizable special teams names in college football, there is an unsung hero of the South Carolina football special teams group.

Long snapper Hunter Rogers is really good at what he does.

Now, the Spring Valley High School graduate is getting some national recognition as Rogers was placed on the preseason watch list for the Patrick Mannelly Award that is given out annually to college football’s best long snapper.

The Patrick Mannelly Award is named after former Duke and Chicago Bears long snapper Patrick Mannelly who was the first player ever selected in the NFL Draft specifically as a specialist. Several other players were selected as snappers but also played other positions for their NFL squads.

Rogers has been a model of consistency on both punts and field goals since winning the job in 2021. Generally speaking, not hearing a long snapper’s name is a good thing as they usually go unnoticed unless they have a bad snap or an egregious missed tackle in coverage.

This has largely remained true for Rogers during his time on the South Carolina football team, but #36 lived out every long snapper’s dream in the Gator Bowl when he had his name called for a positive reason against Notre Dame.

In a move so fast that the camera operator didn’t even catch the snap, the Gamecocks shifted out of their field goal formation and snapped the ball to punter Kai Kroeger (lined up at quarterback) who slung the ball out to Rogers (lined up at receiver) as he streaked up the seam. The former high school wide receiver scored the 23-yard touchdown to take an early lead over the Irish.

Amazingly, that wasn’t Rogers’ first big moment with the ball in his hands as he lined up as the holder on a field goal in the season opener and ran the ball for a 1st down conversion.

The 2022 All-SEC performer is looking to build off his strong season a year ago as he has been included on several preseason All-SEC squads and, now, the Mannelly Award watch list.