South Carolina has shown interest in wide receiver Sam Phillips, a first-team All-Conference selection from Chattanooga, as the Gamecocks explore options to enhance their receiving corps for the upcoming season. Gamecock Digest can confirm that Phillips, who has one year of eligibility remaining, is gaining attention from several programs, including South Carolina.

Over his career at Chattanooga, an FCS (Football Championship Subdivision) program, Phillips has racked up 153 receptions for 2,088 yards and 9 touchdowns. His solid production has drawn interest from schools like South Carolina, Michigan State, and Georgia Tech, alongside official visits to Iowa, Cal, and Virginia Tech. While Phillips holds offers from programs such as Memphis, ECU, and South Alabama, the Gamecocks are among those keeping a close eye on the talented wideout.

As South Carolina continues to target transfer wide receivers, Phillips stands out as a potential intriguing addition to their roster. With his experience and playmaking ability, he could be a valuable piece to watch as the transfer portal moves forward.

Join the community:

You can follow us for future coverage by clicking “Follow” on the top right-hand corner of the page. Also, be sure to follow us on X at @GamecocksDigest and on Facebook!

South Carolina will play against Illinois in the Citrus Bowl. According to head coach Shane Beamer, the Gamecocks will be without Nagurski Trophy winner and consensus All-American Kyle Kennard. An NFL Draft announcement from national Comeback Player of the Year Rocket Sanders followed, but his status for the game hasn’t been addressed further.

However, on Friday, a long list of Gamecocks hoping to hear their names called in the NFL Draft made known their intentions to play in the New Year’s Eve bowl game.

[Join GamecockCentral: $1 for 7 days]

Senior linebacker Demetrius Knight is one such NFL Draft hopeful. The transfer portal addition made it very clear he will play in the Citrus Bowl. Knight said he is, “looking forward to a couple more weeks with the guys…[not being in the College Football Playoff] is heartbreaking.” He added, “I’ve got kids,” so he feels that he doesn’t want them to bring up him not playing in the bowl game as an excuse for them not finishing something they started.

Fellow linebacker Debo Williams said one of the main reasons he and his teammates want to play in the bowl game is the pursuit of history. South Carolina football has won 10 games just four other times (1984, 2011-2013). “This means everything…we want to leave our mark,” he shared. The senior leader reiterated his preseason hope that the defense could “go for donuts” against Illinois.

One of the highest-projected Gamecocks in next year’s draft is Nick Emmanwori. The future professional safety quickly shot down any speculation that he wouldn’t join his South Carolina teammates in Orlando. “I’m going to be in the bowl game,” he told the media on Friday. The Columbia-area native cited the College Football Playoff Selection Committee’s snub of USC as a motivating factor in his decision. “[We] want to make a statement,” he said. Emmanwori added that Carolina doesn’t want to end up like Florida State last year. The Seminoles got blasted 63-3 in the Orange Bowl after being left out of the CFP field. Though he made no definite statement on his future, Emmanwori left the door open for a 2025 return to USC.

Defensive tackles Boogie Huntley and Tonka Hemingway also will play in the bowl. Said Huntley, “It’s another opportunity to go out there and have fun and show the nation—the world—who South Carolina is.” Likewise, Hemingway revealed that he is “really excited to put on the garnet and black, to play for the name on the front and the back.” Both fifth-year seniors have played a lot of football in Columbia and could be late-round picks in April’s NFL Draft.

[GamecockCentral has gift subscriptions]

South Carolina will travel down to Orlando following a short break for Christmas. The Gamecocks and Illini will kick off at 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 31st. ABC will broadcast the game, and ESPN+ will make it available for streaming.

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) – Two South Carolina women have been convicted after pleading guilty to charges related to the trafficking of three minors.

Monesha Tatayana Lapri Gary, 24, of Clinton, and Rebecca Melanie Perry, 30, of Columbia, pleaded guilty to human trafficking conspiracy in federal court in Columbia.

Evidence presented in court showed both women worked with co-defendants Antonio Marquis Nicholson and Terrell Counts to exploit the three minors in the commercial sex trade from at least December 2022 through August 2023.

Officials said Nicholson and Perry recruited one minor victim who was a runaway at a hotel and drove her across state lines, told her that she was going to work in commercial sex, bought her lingerie, took photos of her, advertised her for commercial sex on the internet, and arranged for customers to exploit her at hotels in the Columbia area and elsewhere in the state.

According to a press release, two minors were recruited near a high school.

Officials said members of the conspiracy used the internet to advertise the victims and carry out the crime.

Nicholson is accused of setting prices, collecting proceeds, deciding which minor victims would receive some portion of the proceeds, and how much they would receive.

Gary reportedly chatted with customers as if she was a minor victim, took a minor to another city to be exploited, collected proceeds, and turned them over to Nicholson all while the minor was multiple states away from her family. Perry helped similarly.

One victim was allegedly physically assaulted, and several of the members of the conspiracy carried guns and distributed drugs around the victims.

Under a plea agreement, Gary and Perry agreed to pay restitution to the victims.

United States District Judge Sherri A. Lydon accepted the guilty plea and will sentence Gary and Perry. An indictment is pending against Nicholson and Counts.

Feel more informed, prepared, and connected with WIS. For more free content like this, subscribe to our email newsletter, and download our apps. Have feedback that can help us improve? Click here.

Copyright 2024 WIS. All rights reserved.