Top Freshmen in SEC

Stephon Gilmore and Alshon Jeffery made Chris Low’s list of the best ten true freshmen football players in the league. (ESPN.com)

2. Alshon Jeffery, WR, South Carolina: Led all SEC freshman receivers with 43 catches for 735 yards and six touchdowns. Jeffery finished sixth in the SEC in receiving yards per game (61.2) and also averaged 17.1 yards per catch.

3. Stephon Gilmore, CB, South Carolina: Started at cornerback all 12 games for the Gamecocks. He led the team with nine passes defended and was fifth with 52 tackles. Also returned punts and lined up at quarterback in the Wildcat formation in the win over Clemson.

Stephon Gilmore: “Wise Beyond His Years”

Joe Person from The State has a good feature on South Carolina freshman Stephon Gilmore – click here to read the article.

For all his Gilmore’s physical skills, Johnson has been most impressed with his maturity and serious approach to the game.

“There were a lot of kids that were signed last year that had his talent level – not a whole lot, but a lot. But the kid is just different in his mental makeup, his intensity and his focus,” Johnson said. “He’s done some things this year like a 21- or 22-year-old would do, maybe getting beat on a play, and comes back and makes one of the biggest plays of the game three or four plays later.

“That’s hard for a kid that age to do unless you’ve got that kind of makeup about you.”

The Closer: Parade All-Americans on Campus

Did you know? There are six Parade All-Americans new on the South Carolina campus this fall:

Stephon Gilmore – Football
Kelsey Bone – Women’s Basketball
Ieasia Walker – Women’s Basketball
Marah Strickland – Women’s Basketball
Eric Martinez – Men’s Soccer
Alex Long – Men’s Soccer

Thanks for reading this week and enjoy your weekend.  Hope to see you at Fan Day!

Cocks Crow: Thursday

Preseason football camp is in full swing and we’re just three short weeks away from the season opener vs. N.C. State.  Football has their first 2-a-day practice today.  The volleyball team arrived on campus last week, women’s soccer started practice on Tuesday and men’s soccer starts preseason today.  We’re almost out of the summer doldrums and into the fall season – it can’t come soon enough.

• Gamecock hurdler Johnny Dutch is quoted in USA Today’s story about the American squad for the world track and field championships this weekend in Berlin.
• Former Gamecock Landon Powell cranks one out of Camden Yards yesterday in Oakland’s 6-3 win over Baltimore.
• Here’s some reaction to release of the men’s basketball non-conference schedule: here, here and here.
• Seth Emerson from the The State has a nice piece on Stephon Gilmore and his humble nature.