South-Carolina
Kentucky’s Deone Walker Labeled as a ‘Game Wrecker’ by South Carolina’s Shane Beamer
The Gamecocks are set to play one of the nation’s best interior defensive lineman in Kentucky’s Deone Walker. A player so good that South Carolina head coach Shane Beamer labeled Walker as a “Game Wrecker” in Tuesday’s press conference.
Walker is a junior and projected first round pick for the Wildcats’ defense. He routinely blows up plays and changes offensive schemes with an ideal blend of size, power, and athleticism. Coach Beamer talked about Walker’s rare blend of traits and how that makes him special.
“There’s a reason people say he’s going to be a top ten pick in the NFL draft. He’s so big. Most big guys are big and just big, this guy is big and twitchy and big and athletic. He’s got the twitch and wiggle to defeat double teams, make himself small if that’s possible and split double teams. He’s good at pass rush there’s no question about it, but where he really scares people and scares us is in the run game. He’s got our respect,” Coach Beamer describes the Wildcats’ defensive leader.
Walker has been known to flip offensive gameplans from his ability to be an anchor in the run game and an elite interior pass rusher. The Gamecocks know Walker will make plays, but the key will be limiting his impact on their offense.
“We’ve got to make sure that we don’t allow him to take over the game,” Coach Beamer said. “That’ll be the key for us. We can’t have too many of those negative plays where he disrupts things, but you also understand that he’s going to make some plays.”
Shane Beamer is no stranger to defensive lineman. In 2021, his squad went up against a Georgia team that featured three defensive tackles that went in first round in Jordan Davis, Devonte Wyatt, and Jalen Carter. Coach Beamer says Walker reminds him of those caliber of players.
“He absolutely does just because of the athleticism and the twitch,” Coach Beamer said. “I think Walker does for sure just because he’s got the sheer size, that speaks for itself, but when you add the twitch and the athleticism it adds a whole new element to what you have to prepare for.”
Kentucky head coach Mark Stoops offered his take on what makes his star tackle so effective. For a player that’s 6-foot-6 and 340+ pounds, Walker’s ability to rush the passer and stop the run is special.
“Deone has that ability to change the outcome of a game. He can be very disruptive, but he is unique in that the great size that he has, he’s very light on his feet. He’s so disruptive for being such a big guy and being so nimble and athletic and twitchy,” Kentucky’s Mark Stoops on how Walker impacts games defensively.
When asked where Walker ranks among defensive line players in Stoops’ tenure, the Kentucky head coach was quick to mention former Wildcats’ star pass rusher Josh Hines-Allen. But did concede that Walker is probably the best interior defender he’s had.
“Interior player, I think it’s fair to say he’s the best one I’ve had to this point. Interior defensive lineman for sure,” Coach Stoops said.
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South-Carolina
Tennessee Football 2026 SEC Opponent Summer QnA Preview: South Carolina | Rocky Top Insider
Tennessee football is returning to a house of horrors next season. The Vols will play at South Carolina, where their magical 2022 season essentially came to an end, and Hendon Hooker tore his ACL to finish his college career.
With fall camp around the corner, I spoke with Lulu Kesin of The Greenville News to get the inside scoop on where the Gamecocks are at this summer ahead of this year’s matchup.
Here’s what she said.
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Heading into year six, what’s the feeling around where the program is at under Shane Beamer?
I think there’s still lingering disappointment in how big of a step back 2025 was, but a lot of fans’ blame really went on former offensive coordinator Mike Shula. With the Kendal Briles hire and just with time, there’s been some optimism starting to flood in, but overall I think most feel like this is a make-or-break year for Shane Beamer. His transfer portal success combined with the fact that high school recruiting didn’t take a huge hit despite the 4-8 season helps a lot, but South Carolina can’t miss a bowl game again.
South Carolina was able to return LaNorris Sellers at quarterback. What are the expectations for him this season?
It’s rare to see a quarterback stay in one place for three seasons which is an advantage that should LaNorris Sellers has to capitalize on. He’s had three different OCs which isn’t great. Without a spring game, it’s hard to tell how things are going in Briles’ system, but there are high expectations regardless. LaNorris is a football junkie and often described as a perfectionist so last season was likely a harsh wake-up call in some ways. He’s had bad protection so far but also his own issues to improve upon. I think the expectation now is that Briles is the OC who can get him to where he needs to be, which is closer to his 2024 self.
What have the Gamecocks built around Sellers on offense?
WR Nyck Harbor is the biggest piece downfield, and their chemistry took a big step forward last year. Nitro Tuggle, a transfer WR from Purdue, is another player to keep an eye on. South Carolina does not necessarily have a clear RB1 now, but Beamer brought in three portal RBs, which will hopefully give the offense some life on the ground. On both sides of the ball South Carolina lacked maturity and experience last year so Beamer intentionally brought in some players who had in-game experience, even if it was limited.
A major factor was a lack of protection so South Carolina completely revamped its offensive line. That’s a huge element to Sellers success. He was sacked 42 times last year, the third most in DI.
What projects to be the strengths, weaknesses of the defense?
South Carolina’s secondary will have to operate without DQ Smith, Brandon Cisse and Jalon Kilgore and those are some big shoes to fill. Dylan Stewart was never fully healthy towards the latter half of last season, so if he’s back to 100% then there’s still a lot of strength there, especially with freshman edge rusher Julian Walker coming in.
Do you have an early prediction for the game, or is it too far out to tell still?
I lean more towards it’s too far out to tell but under Beamer, South Carolina is 1-3 in games played during that Oct. 22-26 range. It’s also after a bye week which can either hurt or help the Gamecocks but being at home is certainly an advantage.
Joe Cash’s Scoundrel and Lewis Barbecue collaborate on menu items
Two-star brands offer a prime rib steak mash-up for both restaurants’ menus. Joe Cash’s Scoundrel and John Lewis’ Lewis Barbecue talk collaboration.
Residents who live in Greenville know it’s a gem that shines brightly among other top cities in the U.S.
Word about the mid-size city is spreading with CNN Travel ranking it No. 3 on its list of best towns to visit in America in 2026. The only other cities ahead of it were Sarasota, Florida at No.1 followed by New Haven, Connecticut.
And CNN had a lot to say about Greenville’s southern charm and vibrant downtown.
“Greenville’s got a Main Street that lives up to its name, at the heart of a lively downtown connected to other parts of the city by the Swamp Rabbit Trail, a 28-mile pedestrian and bike network lined with parks and local businesses,” said CNN.
Those new to the area may be enjoying all that it now has to offer, but much has changed since the 80s. Here’s how far the city has come and other aspects that make it special, according to CNN.
Greenville’s transformation ‘decades-in-the-making’
Compared to other cities, Greenville’s downtown feels safe, a description worlds away from what it once was. Russell Stall, executive director of the Greenville County Historical Society, told CNN the area currently known as Fall Parks used to be a place of prostitution and drug use. When Greenville was known as the “Textile Capital of the World,” its industrial hub for cotton mills and manufacturing were powered by the Reedy River in the late 19th and 20th centuries. As a result, dyes and chemicals polluted the river’s waters, hence the nickname the “Rainbow Reedy.” What remains of the era are a few former mill house loft apartments. In the 1990s, the city’s mills began to shutter.
Stall called downtown’s uplift “one of the most significant revitalizations in the history of the city,” referencing the Hyatt Hotel, Peace Center, music venues Coach Music Factory and The Mockingbird, and Fluor Field among key precursors of city change.
Although many positives have come with Greenville’s rise, there have been some downfalls, like the loss of the historic City Fall.
“We tore down a lot of the historic structures that we shouldn’t have,” Stall told CNN.
CNN spotlights Greenville’s sights, recreation, dining scene
Often referred to as a “city with a small town feel,” Greenville has a wealth of things to do, so don’t let the saying mislead you. Sightseeing is an activity that doesn’t cost a dime, with CNN highlighting Liberty Bridge and the Falls as two places with amazing views. The Grand Bohemian Lodge was mentioned due to its “rustic wood-and-stone aesthetic,” accessible through Reedy River’s paths.
Other things to do include riding a bike along the Swamp Rabbit Trail, visiting the Greenville Zoo, and exploring the Village of West Greenville, the city’s art district. CNN also spotlighted Michelin-starred restaurant Scoundrel and Chef Joe Cash, a Greenville native with experience in New York and Copenhagen’s restaurants scene.
“You come home and you see, you know, there’s some new restaurants, some fun things to do. Some more interesting, a little more modern, a little less steak and potatoes, a little more farm-to-table,” Cash said. “And so kind of just watching that over the years, it made sense for me to come back.”
CNN’s Top 10 best towns to visit in America 2026
- Sarasota (Florida)
- New Haven (Connecticut)
- Greenville
- Bethlehem (Pennysylvania)
- Fort Collins (Colorado)
- Burlington (Vermont)
- Juneau (Alaska)
- Iowa City (Iowa)
- Lawrence (Kansas)
- Roanoke (Virginia)
Nina Tran is the breaking news and education reporter for The Greenville News, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach her via email at ntran@usatodayco.com.
COLUMBIA — Coach Dawn Staley gave fans an early look at what’s to come with South Carolina women’s basketball and Nike.
The university officially switched to the brand as its uniform supplier on July 1 after 19 years with Under Armour. This move brings the chance to support A’ja Wilson, a former Gamecocks star who has had her own signature shoe with Nike since May 2025.
In the contract of the Nike agreement, it specifically stated Staley’s team would get Wilson’s shoes, including custom team colors. On July 2, Staley posted photos of the shoes.
While it’s unconfirmed as of now if they are the exact shoes the team will get and wear, the ones Staley posted are garnet, black and white “A’Twos” with Gamecocks logos. One shoe has a black top, the other with white, with matching logos and garnet detail around the base of the shoe.
The bottom of each shoe has Wilson’s logo from her Nike line, in addition to the signature Nike swoosh.
Staley captioned the post, “Why are my feet on fire? Here’s why?!! @GamecockWBB 1 of 1s but are @_ajawilson22 A’Twos!”
Wilson started with her shoes called the “A’One” and then released a second version in May called the A’Twos. South Carolina players can now wear any Nike shoes they want, but the contract specifically mentions the latest version of the A’Twos.
Staley had her own Nike signature shoe released in 1999 called the “Nike Zoom S5.”
“Having been a Nike athlete most of my life, I’m well-versed in what partnership with them means to an organization and its athletes,” Staley said in the July 1 news release. “I am excited that all of our teams at South Carolina will get to feel that, too. For our women’s basketball team, only good things have happened when we’ve partnered with A’ja Wilson, so I look forward to what’s coming next in that legacy.”
Five South Carolina athletes signed signed NIL deals as part of Nike’s new Blue Ribbon Elite NIL program, including women’s basketball stars Joyce Edwards and Chloe Kitts. Quarterback LaNorris Sellers, wide receiver Nyck Harbor and edge rusher Dylan Stewart round out the group of five Gamecocks who are part of the inaugural Blue Ribbon class for South Carolina.
Lulu Kesin covers South Carolina athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email her at LKesin@usatodayco.com. Follow her on X@Lulukesin and Bluesky@bylulukesin.bsky.social
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