USA Today Sports released for network All-SEC football team along with other individual awards for players and coaches. South Carolina may not have had a ton of players on the team, but EDGE rusher Kyle Kennard and defensive back Nick Emanwori both made the cut on the defense.
The other Gamecock to make the list was head coach Shane Beamer, who was named SEC Coach of the Year by USA Today. Beamer led his team to an incredible end of the regular season leading the Gamecocks to a six-game win streak and almost getting his team into the College Football Playoff.
Kennard and Emmanwori were the generals of a nasty South Carolina defense that helped take down four ranked opponents this season. Emmanwori's best game was by far the Oklahoma game when he had two interceptions; one returned for a touchdown. Emmanwori ended the regular season with 83 total tackles, 54 solo tackles, two passes defended, four interceptions, and two pick-sixes.
Kennard, who transferred to South Carolina this season after spending the first four years of his college career with Georgia Tech, was the spark this defense needed this season. The senior transfer had 28 total tackles, 20 solo tackles, one pass defended, 11.5 sacks, and three forced fumbles. Kennard was one of the best if not the best player on the defensive line for South Carolina.
Beamer truly put together an up-and-down season but showed he has what it takes to be a coach in the SEC. The fourth-year head coach and his team started out the season 3-3, with all three losses coming from ranked opponents. The Gamecocks then went on a six-game win streak to close out the regular season 9-3.
South Carolina had done everything they could do to get into the College Football Playoff, playing their best football at the best time of the season. However, the selection committee completely snubbed the Gamecocks and Beamer, saying that their quality of wins didn't matter over head-to-head wins when their resume was clearly better.
With the regular season officially over, end-of-the-season awards will start to be announced, and these will certainly not be the last honors these players and other South Carolina players will receive, as well as Beamer.