Seven football players from the University of South Carolina were recognized for their performance during the 2020 season, winning seats on All-SEC teams selected by Pro Football Focus (PFF). PFF divides the film and assigns grades and analysis to determine its teams from all conferences.
Gamecocks were represented by wide receiver Shi Smith and left guard Sadarius Hutcherson in the second PFF unit; running back Kevin Harris and cornerback Jaycee Horn won selections from the third team; while the tight end Nick Muse, defensive tackle Keir Thomas and linebacker Ernest Jones all received honorable mentions.
Smith, a 5-10 and 190-pound senior from Union, SC, managed 57 passes for 633 yards in nine games. He qualified in the SEC’s top ten in game receipts and game receipts. He ended his career with 174 receptions, fourth on the school’s all-time list and 2,204 receiving yards, eighth in school history.
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Hutcherson, a 6-4, 320-pound senior from Huntingdon, Tennessee, was the team’s best offensive striker. He started all 10 games and made 39 career starts, most of them in the squad, including 36 consecutive starts. He was recognized as the SEC’s offensive striker of the week for his efforts in winning over Vanderbilt.
Harris, a 5 to 10 and 225 pound sophomore from Hinesville, Georgia, led the SEC in yards per game (113.8) while recording the fifth best run total in a single season in the school’s history. He had five 100-yard running games, including a pair of 200-yard running games, and set a school record with five touchdowns on Ole Miss.
Horn, a 6-1 and 93 kg junior from Alpharetta, Georgia, was credited with a pair of six-pass pass separations along with a pair of interceptions. Designed as a first-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, Horn was recognized as the SEC’s defensive player of the week for his performance in the victory over Auburn when he intercepted a pair of passes.
Muse, a 6-4, 250-pound senior from Belmont, NC, was second on the team with 30 receptions for 425 yards, an average of 14.2 yards per reception. He had his best game against Georgia when he managed eight passes for 131 yards and a touchdown. It was the most yards received in a Gamecock tight end game since Danny Smith had 134 yards against the Appalachian State in 1985.
Thomas, 6-2, a 275-pound senior from Miami, Florida, scored 32 tackles and was second on the team with 3.0 sacks and 5.5 tackles for defeat, despite having played only seven games due to injury and illness.
Jones, a 6-2 and 90kg junior from Waycross, Georgia, led the team with 86 tackles in nine games. He broke his personal record with an effort of 19 LSU tackles, the highest number of tackles for a Gamecock since the 1987 season, and almost matched that with an 18 tackle performance on Ole Miss.
Previously Harris (first team) and defensive striker Kingsley Enagbare (second team) won seats in the Associated Press All-SEC squads, while Enagbare (first team), Harris (second team) and Horn (second team) were nominated for the All-SEC units chosen by the 14 SEC coaches.