South Carolina football nearly shut out of national preseason All-SEC team

Thanks to strong efforts in recruiting and in the transfer portal, the South Carolina football roster is as deep with talent as it has been during the Shane Beamer era in Columbia. While there are plenty of questions regarding top-end talent at several positions for the 2024 version of the Gamecocks, there are a lot of good players who will wear garnet and black this season.

However, because of those questions around some of the potential starters, some national voices in college football have doubts about the top players on the roster.

Those doubts were seen clearly in the USA Today Sports Network Preseason All-SEC selections as the Gamecocks were not well-represented in the preseason honoring.

Only linebacker Debo Williams, a player who finished in the top-3 in the SEC in tackles last fall, was picked to the preseason team. Some Gamecocks have received preseason All-SEC or All-American consideration from other outlets, including safety Nick Emmanwori, defensive back Jalon Kilgore, defensive lineman Tonka Hemingway, defensive lineman TJ Sanders, offensive lineman Vershon Lee, running back Rocket Sanders, punter Kai Kroeger, and longsnapper Hunter Rogers.

Georgia quarterback Carson Beck (Player of the Year), Georgia head coach Kirby Smart (Coach of the Year), and Auburn receiver Cam Coleman (Newcomer of the Year) were the picks for SEC awards. Alabama (5) had the most players selected.

The entire USA Today Sports Network Preseason All-SEC team can be seen below:

OFFENSE

Quarterback: Carson Beck, Georgia Bulldogs
Running Back: Trevor Etienne, Georgia Bulldogs
Running Back: Jarquez Hunter, Auburn Tigers
Wide Receiver: Luther Burden III, Missouri Tigers
Wide Receiver: Tre Harris, Ole Miss Rebels
Tight End: Caden Prieskorn, Ole Miss Rebels
Offensive Line: Kelvin Banks, Jr., Texas Longhorns
Offensive Line: Tyler Booker, Alabama Crimson Tide
Offensive Line: Parker Brailsford, Alabama Crimson Tide
Offensive Line: Tate Ratledge, Georgia Bulldogs
Offensive Line: Will Campbell, LSU Tigers
All-Purpose Offense: Barion Brown, Kentucky Wildcats
Kicker: Graham Nicholson, Alabama Crimson Tide

DEFENSE

Defensive Line: James Pearce, Jr., Tennessee Volunteers
Defensive Line: Waler Nolen, Ole Miss Rebels
Defensive Line: Deone Walker, Kentucky Wildcats
Defensive Line: Landon Jackson, Arkansas Razorbacks
Linebacker: Debo Williams, South Carolina Gamecocks
Linebacker: Harold Perkins, LSU Tigers
Linebacker: Danny Stutsman, Oklahoma Sooners
Defensive Back: Maxwell Hairston, Kentucky Wildcats
Defensive Back: Malaki Starks, Georgia Bulldogs
Defensive Back: Billy Bowmna, Jr., Oklahoma Sooners
Defensive Back: Malachi Moore, Alabama Crimson Tide
Punter: James Burnip, Alabama Crimson Tide