South-Carolina

Not Your Ordinary Special Teamer

Published

2 years ago

August 21, 2023

It’s not often that the punter on the football team is a fan favorite, but when you’re among the best in the nation at what you do and are an occasional offensive weapon, senior Kai Kroeger is pretty much a household name among Gamecock fans.

“I don’t get recognized as much as some think,” said Kroeger, who is studying history with a criminal justice minor and aspires to be an FBI agent. “It also depends on who I’m with. Sometimes, if I’m with other players, they’ll get recognized first. I don’t think anyone ever thinks the punter would get recognized, but it’s definitely cool when that happens.”

Even if you don’t know his face, it’s hard not to recognize how important the Illinois native is to the Gamecocks. Kroeger earned First Team All-American and First Team All-SEC honors last year and was one of ten semifinalists for the Ray Guy award that is presented to the nation’s top punter after leading the SEC with a 46.1 yards per punt average. Unfortunately, he wasn’t listed as a finalist for the award, and that serves as some motivation.

“I was only a junior last year and was fortunate enough to be on a bunch of lists,” said Kroeger. “I’m just looking at the future and how I can do better. I always have team goals and a team mentality first. I’ve had punts that were 60 yards in the air, but if they’re not very high, then the runner is able to get a decent return. I’d like to improve on my net average and keep the punts inside the 20 above fifty percent.”

Kroeger’s star has also risen because of some of his non-kicking plays. Under special teams coordinator Pete Lembo, South Carolina’s special teams have kept opponents on their toes with various fakes which has seen Kroeger go six for six on pass attempts in his career, with three touchdown passes.

“The most memorable one for me, even though we didn’t win the game, has to be the one in the bowl game against Notre Dame to Hunter (Rogers),” said Kroeger, who also played quarterback for three years in high school. “I really don’t have much time to think about it. We’ve run it in practice, so I know what to do. As long as the defense does what they think it will do, we should be fine. Growing up, I had always done some quarterback training with a local community college and division three college quarterback coaches, so it’s paid off.”

Kroeger is also the holder for field goals and extra points, which can be a pressure-packed job, but making a good punt has all kinds of pressure as well.

“A punt can change the game or go terribly wrong,” Kroeger said. “It’s an under-the-radar job, but we’ve been able to do stuff here that impacts the game in a tremendous way. I love being a part of that.”

While he may not be on the field for many plays each Saturday, Kroeger takes on a leadership role in some capacity.

“Throughout my four years here, I’ve learned from people who were here before me,” Kroeger said. “Guys like (former kicker) Parker White have shown me how to lead the team in different ways. A lot of it comes from gaining trust from your teammates and talking with different guys. I talk or play golf with guys like (defensive lineman) Alex Huntley and (tight end) Trey Knox and just talk about things we all like to do. It’s a lot of off the field stuff.”

As he prepares for the upcoming season, in addition to improving his punting numbers, he wouldn’t mind adding some other stats.

“I’ve thrown some touchdowns, so maybe I could catch one or run one in on a fake,” Kroeger said. “You have to keep opponents on their toes.”

Source link

Click to comment

South-Carolina

Greg McElroy makes prediction for Alabama at South Carolina

Published

16 hours ago

October 23, 2025

Press Room

Greg McElroy makes prediction for Alabama at South Carolina

The Alabama Crimson Tide is on the road this week at Williams-Brice Stadium to take on the South Carolina Gamecocks. Former UA quarterback Greg McElroy made his prediction on who he thinks will win this matchup.

The Tide have been rolling since their opening loss to Florida State. Since then, the Tide are 6-0 and have rattled off 4 consecutive ranked wins. Alabama is clicking and will be looking to keep that going against a struggling South Carolina team. The Gamecocks are coming off back-to-back losses to LSU and Oklahoma. The offense put up a combined 17 points in the 2 losses, and quarterback LaNorris Sellers threw for only 124 yards in both games.

RELATED: Interested in Daily Fantasy Sports? Use this Dabble promo code from SDS and get in on the action today!

McElroy is sticking with the Tide in this matchup and expects Alabama to keep its win streak going.

“I’m taking Alabama, but I would not be surprised if this is a low-scoring, close, competitive football game for 3-plus quarters,” McElroy said. “Probably lean towards taking the points in this one. I think it’s going to be a close game, but I do think Alabama prevails in what will be a gutsy win on the road at Willy-Brice.”

Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. ET on Saturday.

Source link

South-Carolina

City leaders consider South Carolina Aquarium site for city workforce housing

Published

1 day ago

October 22, 2025

Press Room

City leaders consider South Carolina Aquarium site for city workforce housing

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) – City of Charleston leaders are considering rezoning a lot near the South Carolina Aquarium as part of a future affordable housing plan.

Various downtown sites are under consideration for new housing including a city-owned property on the eastern end of the South Carolina Aquarium parking deck.

Sites under consideration stem from an outlined plan to add 3,500 affordable housing units by 2032. The plan falls in line with the city’s Department of Housing and Community Development’s 2025 to 2029 Consolidated Plan and Annual Action Plan for 2026.

A 2019 to 2023 American Community Survey in the plan’s housing needs assessment records nearly more than 22,000 households are cost burdened. The survey finds that 14,600 renters and more than 8,000 homeowners paid more than 30% of their income on housing costs.

District Two City Councilman Kevin Shealy says creating housing opportunities is needed for the city’s essential workers.

“We have firefighters, police officers, young teachers, essential business people, hospitality workers,” Shealy says. “We need to make sure they can afford to live in the Charleston area and live where they work. It’s essential for our business, it’s essential for how our city operates.”

Aquarium visitors and people walking nearby may view the area as a potential spot for extra parking. A successful rezoning would be step one to adding units.

Mixed-use affordable housing units are under consideration for a site near the South Carolina Aquarium.(Oasis)

City Planning Commission leaders are considering rezoning the lot at the corner of Calhoun and Concord Streets from general business zoning to mixed-use workforce housing.

City planning manager Christopher Morgan says the city has been eyeing the lot for around the last 10 years. He says the city’s recent housing initiative is an opportunity to move forward on adding affordable housing options in the space.

“That will allow for a mix of housing types and, or also commercial aspects,” Morgan says. “It could be that there would be ground floor commercial uses and then ground floor residential uses.”

City leaders say potential housing designs in the city’s 2032 plan will ensure homes will keep the city’s aesthetic. Draft images include designs for spaces such as Charleston singles and cottages.

“We need to protect the way our character of our city is. We need to protect that character,” Shealy says. “These are going to be very attractive homes. Some of them are going to be your Charleston single homes that will be split up into triplexes, but it’s going to be a beautiful type of home that these people are going to be living and businesses will be operating in as well.”

The rezoning would go to the City Council for a public hearing on November 18 if commission leaders recommend approval. A final reading would take place in December if council leaders approve the change.

Morgan says design plans would be the next step if all goes well.

Source link

South-Carolina

Results in for the SC State House District 88 special election primary

Published

2 days ago

October 21, 2025

Press Room

Results in for the SC State House District 88 special election primary

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) – Results are in for the Republican primary election in State House District 88.

The special election is being held to replace ex-SC Rep. RJ May, who resigned after being arrested on 10 counts of distributing child sex abuse materials. May later pleaded guilty to five of the charges in exchange for the other five being dropped.

The results are below. 1,488 ballots total were cast in the primary

John Lastinger: 596 votes, 40.05% of total votes
Brian Duncan: 565 votes, 37.97% of total votes
Lorelai Graye: 225 votes, 15.12% of total votes
Darren E. Rogers Sr.: 102 votes, 6.85% of total votes

Because no candidate got 50% of the vote, there is a potential for a runoff election between the two candidates who received the most votes.

WIS has reached out to the State Election Commission to see if there will be a runoff election.

The winner of the primary will face Democrat Chuck Hightower in the special election on Dec. 23. Hightower ran unopposed in the Democratic primary

This is a developing story. Stay with WIS for the latest details.

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.

WATCH US LIVE

Watch WIS live during newscasts and Soda City Living in the livestream player below. When WIS is not on the air, the player will feature Gray Media’s Local News Live.

Source link