South Carolina head coach Shane Beamer has shown he knows what he is doing when it comes to finding guys in the transfer portal. Beamer, in the offseason, found EDGE rusher Kyle Kennard in the transfer portal after playing four years at Georgia Tech, was able to bring him into the building, and it has been all fun and games since then.
On Monday night, Kennard was awarded the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, which is given to the top defensive player in all of college football. The senior EDGE rusher was up against some stiff competition with Texas Longhorns defensive back Jahdae Barron, Penn State Nittany Lions EDGE Abdul Carter, and Michigan Wolverines defensive tackle Mason Graham up for the award.
Kennard was easily the top defensive player on the South Carolina defense this season, putting together an unforgettable season with the Gamecocks. After spending four years at Georgia Tech and putting up good, but maybe not great numbers. When getting to South Carolina, Kennard completely went off and put up the best stats of his career.
In his one season with the Gamecocks, Kennard has 28 total tackles, 20 solo tackles, 11.5 sacks, 16 tackles for a loss, three forced fumbles, and one pass defended. Kennard almost doubled his sack total from the year before but certainly set season highs in every category except for tackles.
Kennard led the SEC in sacks and tackles for a loss this season, and both of those numbers were also top 10 in the nation.
This is the first time a South Carolina Gamecocks player has won the Nagurski Trophy, and the fact that Kennard did it in his first and potentially only season with the Gamecocks is amazing. It seems that all signs are pointing to Kennard heading to the NFL next season, as he is looking like a top pick in the draft defensively, potentially going in the first round.