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Brian Shoemaker
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Gamecock Nation Today
- Monday, May 6, 2019 -
1. Who are South Carolina's best five returning players on defense?
Who are the best returning players on South Carolina's team? It's a question that we'll look to answer using Pro Football Focus' grades from last season.
Pro Football Focus - or PFF - has quickly become a highly relied upon tool in determining player performance in the last few years, particularly during NFL broadcasts.
What exactly is PFF? Essentially, PFF is the marriage of the “But look at the stats!” and “I know what I saw” football watchers. PFF knows that not all stats are created equally.
Thus, it seeks to judge players individually for their contributions on each play. PFF seeks not to give stats but to interpret stats (More on PFF here).
Here's a look at South Carolina's top returning defensive players, based on their PFF grades in 2018:
DT Javon Kinlaw - 85.4 overall PFF grade
South Carolina's highest graded player on offense or defense, PFF was extremely high on Kinlaw's play last season, which was boosted by huge scores against Vanderbilt (97) and Akron (90.0).
Kinlaw, who chose to return for his senior season, was graded as South Carolina's best run defender (79.5) and pass rusher (88.7) last year, despite playing on the interior of the defensive line.
CB Israel Mukuamu - 75.6
The freshman saw his playing time and his PFF grades rise as the season progressed last year as he posted his three highest grades in the final four games of the season to edge out Jaycee Horn as the team's highest graded freshman.
The lengthy freshman's 75.1 coverage grade was second only to Horn among Carolina's defensive backs. After a strong spring practice performance, Mukuamu looks to be a sure starter at cornerback this season.
DT Kobe Smith - 75.0
One of Carolina's underappreciated defenders, PFF was high on the work Smith did last season as a backup to Kinlaw and part-time starter alongside him against certain offenses.
Smith proved to be solid against the run (78.3) and a solid tackler (78.5), according to PFF's grades.
DE Kingsley Enagbare - 73.7
Enagbare will be counted on as a key defensive end for the Gamecocks this season and PFF liked what he did as a freshman last year when he played more of an interior role.
Enagbare's score was boosted by a huge game against Akron when he had five quarterback pressures, including a sack, to earn a grade of 91.5 in the regular season finale.
CB Jaycee Horn - 72.9
South Carolina's top defensive back performer by this writer's eyes, Horn was a Day 1 starter for the Gamecocks last season but was slowed by injuries late in the year. Horn has the chance to be the Gamecocks' best player in 2019.
Horn posted the best PFF coverage grade in the Carolina secondary in 2018 (75.6) and led the team in pass breakups with eight.
NOTES:
• Linebacker Ernest Jones' freshman grade of 74.8 actually would have put him at fourth on this list, but Jones played in just five games (97 defensive snaps) last year, so he didn't qualify for the list.
• BUCK D.J. Wonnum's 2018 season was derailed by an ankle injury, but he's certainly in the conversation as Carolina's best defensive player when healthy. Wonnum posted a grade of 74.2 as a sophomore in 2017 and will likely vie for top honors this season if he can stay healthy.
NFL rookie Gamecocks get their numbers
South Carolina's three drafted rookies all received their official numbers from their respective NFL teams within the last few days.
Here they are for those of you planning to watch your Gamecocks at the next level this upcoming season.
• WR Deebo Samuel - No. 19 - San Francisco 49ers
• CB Rashad Fenton - No. 27 - Kansas City Chiefs
• OL Dennis Daley - No. 66 - Carolina Panthers
– Wes Mitchell
2. Another Carolina Podcast
Another Carolina Podcast: Recruiting scoop, NFL Draft wrap up
Gamecock Central football and recruiting insiders Chris Clark and Wes Mitchell join host Pearson Fowler on Another Carolina Podcast to wrap up the NFL Draft and discuss the latest on several major recruiting targets. (link)
– Wes Mitchell
3. ⚾ Gamecocks swept by Commodores
• South Carolina was swept this weekend against Vanderbilt, getting blown out in Friday’s game before dropping both seven-inning games as part of a doubleheader Sunday. It’s the first time since 2008 the Gamecocks have been swept in three three-game series in one season.
• They’re now 5-19 in conference play, guaranteeing the worst season in SEC play in terms of losses since joining the league in 1992. They’re also on a seven-game losing streak in SEC play, the longest conference losing streak since 1992 as well.
• Gamecock pitchers had a hard time getting outs against a Vanderbilt lineup Mark Kingston said was the best he’s seen this season. They finished the weekend with an ERA of 13.70 and a WHIP of 2.30.
• Andrew Eyster’s offensive tweaks are working with the sophomore going 5-for-7 this weekend with a double, two homers and three RBI. He’s driven in seven runs the last six SEC games. Other than Eyster, the Gamecocks had just 18 hits.
Game 1: Commodores hammer Gamecocks in series opener (story, photos)
Game 2: Gamecocks falter late in game one of doubleheader (story)
Game 3: Gamecocks swept by Vandy (story, photos)
Up next: The Gamecocks host Furman at Founders Park Wednesday at 7 p.m. on the SEC Network Plus.
Earl Bass Jersey Retired
• The late Earl Bass had his jersey retired Saturday, becoming the first former player to have that happen. He’s the first of hopefully many jerseys the Gamecocks want to retire over the next few years.
Related: video of the ceremony, photos of the ceremony
– Collyn Taylor
4. This, that, and the other
Women's Golf: No. 9 Gamecocks ready for Cle Elum Regional - The women's golf team is set to compete at the NCAA Cle Elum Regional this week at Tumble Creek Golf Club. USC, the No. 3 seed in the region, will aim to capture its fourth NCAA Regional Title in the past five years. (link)
Football Recruiting: Blackville-Hilda 2021 athlete on Gamecocks' radar - Blackville (S.C.) Blackville-Hilda class of 2021 ATH Adonis Davis Jr. is officially on South Carolina's radar. The 6-foot-1, 205-pound prospect, who plays quarterback in high school, received a visit in January from area recruiter Bryan McClendon, who followed back up with Davis about the Gamecocks' potential plans for him. (subscription)
Baseball Recruiting: Gamecocks have a few 'immediate impact' pitchers in 2019 class - Brian Sakowski, the national scouting supervisor at PerfectGame, thinks there’s a real chance USC pitching coach Skylar Meade has a handful of guys that can be “immediate impacts on the mound” and turn into high-level draft picks. (subscription)
Softball: Lose 2 of 3 to Missouri
Game 1: Gamecocks break school record for home runs in loss to Missouri (story)
Game 2: Gamecocks drop series to Missouri (story)
Game 3: Gamecocks take Missouri finale with strong first Inning (story)
Softball: SEC Tournament Bracket announced - USC will be the No. 11 seed in the SEC Tournament, which begins this week in College Station. The Gamecocks will face Florida on Wednesday at 1:30. (link)
Women's Tennis: No. 4 Carolina heads to third-straight Sweet 16 - Senior Paige Cline rallied for a three-set victory, clinching Carolina's victory over Virginia, 4-1, on Saturday, advancing the Gamecocks to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Championships. (link)
Men's Tennis: Gamecocks end season in NCAA Second Round - No. 17 South Carolina closed its season with a 4-1 loss at No. 5 Virginia in the NCAA Championships second round Saturday. (link)
Track & Field: Gamecock alumna Kryst Wins Miss USA competition - USC track & field alumna Cheslie "Ceci" Kryst won the 2019 Miss USA competition, held Thursday, May 2 at the Grand Sierra Resort in Reno. (link)
– Jackson Fields
5. This Date in Gamecock History
May 6, 1998 – Peter Bauer pitched the Gamecocks' first complete-game shutout in five years as he knocked off Charleston Southern 4-0 in the second half of a strange day-night doubleheader that saw Carolina defeat Presbyterian 5-4 earlier in the day. Bauer scattered seven hits in the win while Ryan Bordenick provided offensive support with his 16th home run of the season. Clint Collins got the start and the win against Presbyterian, pitching into the eighth before Patrick Sexton and Jason Pomar closed things out. Bordenick also homered in that game, while Mic Knox and Tripp Kelly each had doubles. USC's record jumped to 41-12 with the pair of victories.
– John Parker, gamecockarchives.com
6. Birthdays and Celebrations!
John Abraham - Abraham played only two years of high school football, but flashed enough raw talent that the Charlotte Observer named him one of the state’s top 25 recruits in 1995. He picked USC over Clemson and made an early mark as a Gamecock, earning time as a second-string defensive end as a true freshman. Abraham would go on to start the next two season at defensive end, earning a reputation as one of the conference’s most-feared pass rushers. In 1999, he dropped around 10 pounds as Lou Holtz came on board and shifted him to outside linebacker. Abraham earned second-team all-SEC honors that season despite the Gamecocks’ lack of success. He was a co-captain that season and was given the Steve Wadiak Award as the team’s MVP. After the season he played in the Senior Bowl before becoming the 13th pick in the first round of the 2000 NFL Draft by the New York Jets. Abraham went on to be named to five Pro Bowls while recording 133.5 sacks with the Jets (2000-05), Falcons (2006-12) and Cardinals (2013-14).
Adam Buckley (football/defensive tackle, 1997)
John Ewing (football/offensive guard, 1989)
Keith Miller (football/wide receiver, 1981)
– John Parker, gamecockarchives.com
7. ⌚ Key Events (Countdown)
• May 8 – SEC Softball Tourney (2 days)
• May 21 – SEC Baseball Tourney (15)
• July 15 – SEC Media Days begins (70)
• July 20 – Ladies Football Clinic (75)
• Aug. 31 – Football: Gamecocks vs UNC (117)
More happenings
• May 7 – Sumter, Spurs Up Tour
• May 8 – Myrtle Beach, Spurs Up Tour
• May 8 – Marion Gamecock Club meeting
• May 9 – Atlanta, Spurs Up Tour
• May 14 – Charleston, Spurs Up Tour
• May 18 – SC Legends Baseball Camp
Will Muschamp is scheduled to appear at all of the Spurs Up Tour events. More information, including locations and ticket prices, can be found here.
DID YOU KNOW? You can receive this report (Gamecock Nation Today) early each morning in your email inbox. Sign up here.
------------------------
Gamecock Nation Today
- Monday, May 6, 2019 -
1. Who are South Carolina's best five returning players on defense?
Who are the best returning players on South Carolina's team? It's a question that we'll look to answer using Pro Football Focus' grades from last season.
Pro Football Focus - or PFF - has quickly become a highly relied upon tool in determining player performance in the last few years, particularly during NFL broadcasts.
What exactly is PFF? Essentially, PFF is the marriage of the “But look at the stats!” and “I know what I saw” football watchers. PFF knows that not all stats are created equally.
Thus, it seeks to judge players individually for their contributions on each play. PFF seeks not to give stats but to interpret stats (More on PFF here).
Here's a look at South Carolina's top returning defensive players, based on their PFF grades in 2018:
DT Javon Kinlaw - 85.4 overall PFF grade
South Carolina's highest graded player on offense or defense, PFF was extremely high on Kinlaw's play last season, which was boosted by huge scores against Vanderbilt (97) and Akron (90.0).
Kinlaw, who chose to return for his senior season, was graded as South Carolina's best run defender (79.5) and pass rusher (88.7) last year, despite playing on the interior of the defensive line.
CB Israel Mukuamu - 75.6
The freshman saw his playing time and his PFF grades rise as the season progressed last year as he posted his three highest grades in the final four games of the season to edge out Jaycee Horn as the team's highest graded freshman.
The lengthy freshman's 75.1 coverage grade was second only to Horn among Carolina's defensive backs. After a strong spring practice performance, Mukuamu looks to be a sure starter at cornerback this season.
DT Kobe Smith - 75.0
One of Carolina's underappreciated defenders, PFF was high on the work Smith did last season as a backup to Kinlaw and part-time starter alongside him against certain offenses.
Smith proved to be solid against the run (78.3) and a solid tackler (78.5), according to PFF's grades.
DE Kingsley Enagbare - 73.7
Enagbare will be counted on as a key defensive end for the Gamecocks this season and PFF liked what he did as a freshman last year when he played more of an interior role.
Enagbare's score was boosted by a huge game against Akron when he had five quarterback pressures, including a sack, to earn a grade of 91.5 in the regular season finale.
CB Jaycee Horn - 72.9
South Carolina's top defensive back performer by this writer's eyes, Horn was a Day 1 starter for the Gamecocks last season but was slowed by injuries late in the year. Horn has the chance to be the Gamecocks' best player in 2019.
Horn posted the best PFF coverage grade in the Carolina secondary in 2018 (75.6) and led the team in pass breakups with eight.
NOTES:
• Linebacker Ernest Jones' freshman grade of 74.8 actually would have put him at fourth on this list, but Jones played in just five games (97 defensive snaps) last year, so he didn't qualify for the list.
• BUCK D.J. Wonnum's 2018 season was derailed by an ankle injury, but he's certainly in the conversation as Carolina's best defensive player when healthy. Wonnum posted a grade of 74.2 as a sophomore in 2017 and will likely vie for top honors this season if he can stay healthy.
NFL rookie Gamecocks get their numbers
South Carolina's three drafted rookies all received their official numbers from their respective NFL teams within the last few days.
Here they are for those of you planning to watch your Gamecocks at the next level this upcoming season.
• WR Deebo Samuel - No. 19 - San Francisco 49ers
• CB Rashad Fenton - No. 27 - Kansas City Chiefs
• OL Dennis Daley - No. 66 - Carolina Panthers
– Wes Mitchell
2. Another Carolina Podcast
Another Carolina Podcast: Recruiting scoop, NFL Draft wrap up
Gamecock Central football and recruiting insiders Chris Clark and Wes Mitchell join host Pearson Fowler on Another Carolina Podcast to wrap up the NFL Draft and discuss the latest on several major recruiting targets. (link)
– Wes Mitchell
3. ⚾ Gamecocks swept by Commodores
• South Carolina was swept this weekend against Vanderbilt, getting blown out in Friday’s game before dropping both seven-inning games as part of a doubleheader Sunday. It’s the first time since 2008 the Gamecocks have been swept in three three-game series in one season.
• They’re now 5-19 in conference play, guaranteeing the worst season in SEC play in terms of losses since joining the league in 1992. They’re also on a seven-game losing streak in SEC play, the longest conference losing streak since 1992 as well.
• Gamecock pitchers had a hard time getting outs against a Vanderbilt lineup Mark Kingston said was the best he’s seen this season. They finished the weekend with an ERA of 13.70 and a WHIP of 2.30.
• Andrew Eyster’s offensive tweaks are working with the sophomore going 5-for-7 this weekend with a double, two homers and three RBI. He’s driven in seven runs the last six SEC games. Other than Eyster, the Gamecocks had just 18 hits.
Game 1: Commodores hammer Gamecocks in series opener (story, photos)
Game 2: Gamecocks falter late in game one of doubleheader (story)
Game 3: Gamecocks swept by Vandy (story, photos)
Up next: The Gamecocks host Furman at Founders Park Wednesday at 7 p.m. on the SEC Network Plus.
Earl Bass Jersey Retired
• The late Earl Bass had his jersey retired Saturday, becoming the first former player to have that happen. He’s the first of hopefully many jerseys the Gamecocks want to retire over the next few years.
Related: video of the ceremony, photos of the ceremony
– Collyn Taylor
4. This, that, and the other
Women's Golf: No. 9 Gamecocks ready for Cle Elum Regional - The women's golf team is set to compete at the NCAA Cle Elum Regional this week at Tumble Creek Golf Club. USC, the No. 3 seed in the region, will aim to capture its fourth NCAA Regional Title in the past five years. (link)
Football Recruiting: Blackville-Hilda 2021 athlete on Gamecocks' radar - Blackville (S.C.) Blackville-Hilda class of 2021 ATH Adonis Davis Jr. is officially on South Carolina's radar. The 6-foot-1, 205-pound prospect, who plays quarterback in high school, received a visit in January from area recruiter Bryan McClendon, who followed back up with Davis about the Gamecocks' potential plans for him. (subscription)
Baseball Recruiting: Gamecocks have a few 'immediate impact' pitchers in 2019 class - Brian Sakowski, the national scouting supervisor at PerfectGame, thinks there’s a real chance USC pitching coach Skylar Meade has a handful of guys that can be “immediate impacts on the mound” and turn into high-level draft picks. (subscription)
Softball: Lose 2 of 3 to Missouri
Game 1: Gamecocks break school record for home runs in loss to Missouri (story)
Game 2: Gamecocks drop series to Missouri (story)
Game 3: Gamecocks take Missouri finale with strong first Inning (story)
Softball: SEC Tournament Bracket announced - USC will be the No. 11 seed in the SEC Tournament, which begins this week in College Station. The Gamecocks will face Florida on Wednesday at 1:30. (link)
Women's Tennis: No. 4 Carolina heads to third-straight Sweet 16 - Senior Paige Cline rallied for a three-set victory, clinching Carolina's victory over Virginia, 4-1, on Saturday, advancing the Gamecocks to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Championships. (link)
Men's Tennis: Gamecocks end season in NCAA Second Round - No. 17 South Carolina closed its season with a 4-1 loss at No. 5 Virginia in the NCAA Championships second round Saturday. (link)
Track & Field: Gamecock alumna Kryst Wins Miss USA competition - USC track & field alumna Cheslie "Ceci" Kryst won the 2019 Miss USA competition, held Thursday, May 2 at the Grand Sierra Resort in Reno. (link)
– Jackson Fields
5. This Date in Gamecock History
May 6, 1998 – Peter Bauer pitched the Gamecocks' first complete-game shutout in five years as he knocked off Charleston Southern 4-0 in the second half of a strange day-night doubleheader that saw Carolina defeat Presbyterian 5-4 earlier in the day. Bauer scattered seven hits in the win while Ryan Bordenick provided offensive support with his 16th home run of the season. Clint Collins got the start and the win against Presbyterian, pitching into the eighth before Patrick Sexton and Jason Pomar closed things out. Bordenick also homered in that game, while Mic Knox and Tripp Kelly each had doubles. USC's record jumped to 41-12 with the pair of victories.
– John Parker, gamecockarchives.com
6. Birthdays and Celebrations!
John Abraham - Abraham played only two years of high school football, but flashed enough raw talent that the Charlotte Observer named him one of the state’s top 25 recruits in 1995. He picked USC over Clemson and made an early mark as a Gamecock, earning time as a second-string defensive end as a true freshman. Abraham would go on to start the next two season at defensive end, earning a reputation as one of the conference’s most-feared pass rushers. In 1999, he dropped around 10 pounds as Lou Holtz came on board and shifted him to outside linebacker. Abraham earned second-team all-SEC honors that season despite the Gamecocks’ lack of success. He was a co-captain that season and was given the Steve Wadiak Award as the team’s MVP. After the season he played in the Senior Bowl before becoming the 13th pick in the first round of the 2000 NFL Draft by the New York Jets. Abraham went on to be named to five Pro Bowls while recording 133.5 sacks with the Jets (2000-05), Falcons (2006-12) and Cardinals (2013-14).
Adam Buckley (football/defensive tackle, 1997)
John Ewing (football/offensive guard, 1989)
Keith Miller (football/wide receiver, 1981)
– John Parker, gamecockarchives.com
7. ⌚ Key Events (Countdown)
• May 8 – SEC Softball Tourney (2 days)
• May 21 – SEC Baseball Tourney (15)
• July 15 – SEC Media Days begins (70)
• July 20 – Ladies Football Clinic (75)
• Aug. 31 – Football: Gamecocks vs UNC (117)
More happenings
• May 7 – Sumter, Spurs Up Tour
• May 8 – Myrtle Beach, Spurs Up Tour
• May 8 – Marion Gamecock Club meeting
• May 9 – Atlanta, Spurs Up Tour
• May 14 – Charleston, Spurs Up Tour
• May 18 – SC Legends Baseball Camp
Will Muschamp is scheduled to appear at all of the Spurs Up Tour events. More information, including locations and ticket prices, can be found here.
