South-Carolina
Rocket Sanders, 4 other South Carolina football players who’ve stood out for Shane Beamer in 2024
COLUMBIA — Looking at South Carolina football’s roster in August, there were question marks. With lots of underclassmen, transfers and position battles to be sorted out, it wasn’t obvious who would stand out.
South Carolina holds a 3-1 record heading into its first open date of the season after defeating Akron 50-7 on Saturday.
With four games played, including two SEC, here are five players who have stood out on offense, defense and special teams.
Offense: Mazeo Bennett Jr.
Mazeo Bennett Jr., a freshman wide receiver from Greenville, leads the Gamecocks with 159 receiving yards. He had his coming out game against Kentucky, scoring a touchdown and catching a 32-yard pass. Bennett had 71 receiving yards on five catches against Akron, and scored his first touchdown in Williams-Brice Stadium.
Top skills: Route running, hands and confidence, especially in big moments
Offense: Rocket Sanders
Rocket Sanders, a transfer running back from Arkansas, has played well coming off a season riddled with injuries. His best game was against LSU in which he scored twice and logged a 66-yard run. Though he was injured early in the win against Akron, Sanders has 286 yards on 57 carries.
Top skills: Strength, speed, leadership
Honorable mention: LaNorris Sellers, quarterback
Defense: Kyle Kennard
Kyle Kennard, a transfer edge rusher from Georgia Tech, is tied for first in the country in sacks with 5.5. Kennard is explosive, disruptive and thus far the most impactful defender for South Carolina. At 6-foot-5, his size poses a challenge to most offenses, and he’s established himself as a strong presence no matter the opponent. He has seven solo tackles, two forced fumbles, and 8.5 tackles for a loss of 53 yards.
Top skills: ability to get off the ball, dependability/consistency, leadership
PASSING GAME: South Carolina football’s passing game is improving, what it means entering open date
Defense: Nick Emmanwori
Nick Emmanwori, a defensive back, was sort of drowned out by the hype for freshman Dylan Stewart in weeks 1 and 2, but the junior has been huge for the Gamecocks. He leads the team with 18 solo tackles — eight against LSU — and has two interceptions. Against Kentucky, he jumped to intercept a pass and maintained his balance to return the ball for a 24-yard touchdown. He had another pick against LSU and showcased that he runs like a receiver when he catches the ball.
Top skills: Size, strength, anticipates well, IQ
Honorable mention: Dylan Stewart, edge
Special teams: Alex Herrera
Alex Herrera hadn’t kicked field goal before the opener vs. Old Dominion, but he nailed three to keep South Carolina in the game. The 49-yard kick he missed to tie the score against LSU doesn’t take away from his dependability on field goals and extra points. What’s most impressive is he won the kicker battle shortly before Week 1 and has stepped into a huge role with little experience.
Top skills: Short memory, doesn’t dwell on the negative, after LSU he went 6-6 on extra points against Akron
Honorable mention: Kai Kroeger, punter
Lulu Kesin covers South Carolina athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email her at lkesin@gannett.com and follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, @Lulukesin
Impact of the longest government shutdown in US history
USA TODAY’s Washington bureau chief lays out of the impact of the longest government shutdown in U.S. history.
The federal government shutdown ended late on Nov. 12 after President Donald Trump signed a temporary spending plan.
All of South Carolina’s Republican delegation in the House of Representatives voted in favor of the spending plan when it came before their chamber.
This week’s About Politics examines South Carolina representative’s response to the government shutdown, one congresswoman’s increased security push, and why one political candidate says he is running against Lindsey Graham.
House members on government shutdown
The U.S. government is back open after 43 days of shutdown. President Trump signed a temporary spending plan into place late at night on Nov. 12, meaning that furloughed employees will be back at work and crucial government programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will be funded.
The temporary spending plan passed the House in a 222 to 209 vote. All six of South Carolina’s Republican House members voted for the bill. The lone Democrat, 6th-District Rep. James Clyburn, voted against the policy.
Clyburn said on X that he opposes the bill because it fails to extend Obamacare tax credits that have kept healthcare costs down for millions of Americans.
“As a result of this bill, Americans will continue to experience painful sticker shock when they see their new healthcare premiums,” Clyburn said. “The end of this shutdown does not mean the end of Democrats’ fight to ensure that health care in this country is accessible and affordable for all.”
South Carolina’s Republican House members commended the end to the shutdown, while pointing a finger at their Democratic peers for holding out on a spending plan.
U.S. Rep. Sheri Biggs, R-District 3, wrote on X that she spent the weeks of the shutdown traveling across her district and connecting with people who were impacted.
“While Democrats were playing political games at risk of American families, we remained focused on doing right for our people and rejecting their radical demands,” Biggs wrote. “Now, it’s time to move forward, and get back to work for South Carolina and continuing in our America First agenda.”
U.S. Rep. Timmons writes op-ed on impacts of shutdown on veterans
U.S. Rep. William Timmons, R-District 4, wrote an op-ed for The Washington Reporter on Nov. 11 about the impacts that the government shutdown was having on veterans and their families. He said that the shutdown caused delays in career counseling, job trainings and adaptive employment support for veterans. The congressman also pointed to weeks of delays for new disability claims and limited communication from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
“These are not just statistics,” Timmons wrote. “They are real people who have served our country and are trying to move forward in civilian life. Every day that services were delayed made reintegration harder for them and their families.”
He said that some Senate Democrats’ decision to switch their votes in support of a spending plan “cannot come soon enough.”
Nancy Mace gets federal security at Lowcountry office
U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace’s office in Charleston now has a full time security detail, according to her staff. The Republican congresswoman who represents South Carolina’s 1st District claims to receive over 1,300 credible threats every year.
U.S. Capitol Police worked with the Charleston Police Department after an incident with the congresswoman’s security detail at the Charleston International Airport in late October, according to her office. The dispute between Mace and the airport started after a mixup involving Mace’s arrival at the airport and the security detail that was supposed to escort her through the facility.
Mace said in a statement that she is grateful for both departments’ work to provide security at the office.
“Unfortunately, it took an airport falsifying police reports and retaliating against a Member of Congress to wake everyone up to the reality of the threats we face daily,” Mace stated.
Alan Wilson supports posting Ten Commandments in classrooms
South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson and 17 other state attorneys general signed a friend-of-the-court brief in support of a Louisiana law requiring a display of the Ten Commandments in public schools. The brief was filed after an appeals court deemed the law unconstitutional.
Kentucky, Idaho, Mississippi and Utah were among other state attorneys general who signed onto the brief. The group of attorneys general argued that acknowledgements of how the Ten Commandments influenced America’s heritage are common. The commandments displayed in the U.S. Supreme Court building is a representation of their impact on the legal system, the brief stated.
“Our society is healthier and stronger when we have more religion in public life — not less,” Wilson said. “It is time to end the left’s war on religion.”
Paul Dans speaks with Tucker Carlson on Senate race
Author of Project 2025 and Republican candidate for U.S. Senate Paul Dans spoke to conservative political commentator Tucker Carlson on his bid against Incumbent Sen. Lindsey Graham. Tucker introduced Dans and said he is grateful for Dans running “not as a protest candidate,” but as someone who has been involved in policy making.
“My motives are not personal. I’ve always liked Lindsey Graham, but I think he’s very obviously evil and if he is the face of the Republican Party, normal people can’t support it including me,” Carlson said.
Dans said he is running to make sure that the Make America Great Again (MAGA) and America Firm movements survive beyond Trump’s presidency. The candidate said his primary values as a candidate are god, family and country.
“I cannot sit back and watch someone like Lindsey Graham represent our state,” Dans said.
Greenville businessman Mark Lynch is also running in the Republican Senate primary. There are five Democrats in the primary: Charleston pediatrician Dr. Annie Andrews, Greenville business owner Brandon Brown, Columbia preservationist Catherine Fleming Bruce, Columbia logistics professional Kyle Freeman and Myrtle Beach resident Christopher Giracello.
The independent candidates are Jack Ellison of Charleston, Cindy Glaser of Fountain Inn and Paul Sedletsky of North Myrtle Beach. Kasie Whitener, a businessowner and writer residing in Blythewood, is also running as a Libertarian.
Bella Carpentier covers the South Carolina legislature, state, and Greenville County politics. Contact her at bcarpentier@gannett.com
South-Carolina
SC Ports launches annual holiday toy drive to fulfill wish lists for SC foster children
MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. (WCIV) — South Carolina Ports is calling on Charleston area businesses and residents to help fulfill the holiday wish lists of SC foster children this holiday season, through their fourth annual toy drive.
This annual event, supported by SC Ports, the International Longshoreman’s Association Locals 1422,1422-A and 1771, Coalition 18 and the Maritime Association of South Carolina, aims to fill a 40-foot shipping container with donations for children across the state.
According to the release from SC Ports, approximately 2,000 donations are collected each year, and from there are distributed statewide by the S.C. Department of Social Services, ensure no child is without a gift this holiday season.
Those who wish to donate and support this cause can deliver unwrapped toys to the SC Ports headquarters, located in Mount Pleasant. Alternatively gifts can be purchased off the following wish lists:
Amazon Gift Wish List
Target Gift Wish List
Walmart Gift Wish List
Anyone who purchases items from an online wish list is urged to ensure that the gift is being shipped to the address linked in the registry.
The deadline for donations is Dec. 12.
COLLETON COUNTY, S.C. (WCIV) — A Colleton County man has been charged for allegedly striking a 4-year-old, according to the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division.
31-year-old Garrett Scott Biering was arrested on Nov. 5 and faces a charge of unlawfully placing a child at risk of harm, SLED announced Wednesday. Biering allegedly struck a 4-year-old with an open palm on the thigh “three or more times,” causing the child to bruise, according to an affidavit.
READ MORE | “North Charleston police charge two with attempted murder after shots fired during dispute”
Biering was booked at the Colleton County Detention Center, and the case will be prosecuted by the 14th Circuit Solicitor’s Office.
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