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By all accounts, South Carolina fell short of expectations this season with a 7-6 finish, but several players enjoyed stellar campaigns including a trio of sophomores. Here are the Gamecocks’ five best players in 2014:
5. Skai Moore, Soph., LB — Moore led the Gamecocks with 93 tackles and picked off three passes despite playing one less game than most of his teammates. Alongside Johnathan Walton next fall, South Carolina’s group of linebackers should be amongst the best in the Eastern Division.
4. Elliott Fry, Soph., K — When Steve Spurrier elected not to roll the dice on fourth down, the Gamecocks trotted out their steady placekicker who hit 12 consecutive field goals at one point this season. Fry struggled a bit over South Carolina’s final five games, but still finished with the third-most makes (19) in the SEC and connected on all 51 extra-point tries.
3. A.J. Cann, Sr., OL — A member of multiple All-America teams in his final season, this multi-year starter at guard is one of the most consistent players to ever come through South Carolina’s football program, starting 51 of 52 games during his tenure. His selection as an All-American means the Gamecocks have had an All-American nod a school-record six consecutive years.
2. Dylan Thompson, Sr., QB — Forced into action as the player who followed winningest quarterback Connor Shaw under center, this fifth-year senior set a school-record for passing yards in a season (3,564) and rarely missed a play as the reliable facilitator for one of the most productive offenses in program history. Thompson led the SEC in completions, attempts, yards and touchdowns despite unjust season-long criticism as a player who struggled in crunch time.
1. Pharoh Cooper, Soph., WR — The Gamecocks have a superstar and 2015 darkhorse Heisman candidate in Cooper, a dynamic playmaker who is a threat to score in a variety of ways every time he touches the football. Cooper became the first wide receiver since Alshon Jeffery to top 1,000 yards receiving this fall and also did damage on the ground, managing 200 yards and a couple scores. The first team All-SEC pass-catcher finished with a team-best 69 catches and nine touchdown receptions. He averaged 13.9 yards per touch on offense.
Honorable mention: Mike Davis, Jr., RB; Brison Williams, Sr., S
