South Carolina punter Mason Love has been named one of Ray's Great 8 performers by the Ray Guy Award following his standout effort in the Gamecocks' matchup against LSU, announced on Monday.
Love, a 6-foot-1, 191-pound redshirt freshman from Riverside, Missouri, was surgical with is placement in Baton Rouge. He averaged 41.8 yards on four punts, with each of them pinning the Tigers inside their own 20-yard line. His punts landed at the 15-, 10-, 8- and 10-yard lines, respectively. LSU's lone return went backward for minus-eight yards. The Gamecocks also posted a 43.8-yard net average on the day, one of their best performances this season in the special teams phase.
Through six games, Love ranks as the nation's second-leading freshman punter, averaging 44.8 yards per punt on 24 attempts. He has already produced eight punts of 50-plus yards, 10 inside the 20, and just two touchbacks, a testament to his consistency and field-control prowess.
Love is only in his first season as South Carolina's starting punter but has quickly established himself among the SEC's elite specialists. A near lock for Freshman All-SEC honors, he has also positioned himself as a legitimate candidate for Freshman All-American recognition if his consistency continues.
Love's recognition marks another step forward for a young South Carolina special teams unit that continues to be a bright spot under Shane Beamer's leadership.
The Gamecocks (3-3, 1-3 SEC) return home this Saturday, October 18, to host Oklahoma at Williams-Brice Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 12:45 p.m. ET on the SEC Network.