2011 South Carolina Gamecocks football team

2011 South Carolina Gamecocks football
Capital One Bowl champion
Capital One Bowl, W 30–13 vs. Nebraska
Conference	Southeastern Conference
Division	East Division
Ranking
Coaches	No. 8
AP	No. 9
Record	11–2 (6–2 SEC)
Head coach	Steve Spurrier (7th season)
Offensive scheme	Multiple
Defensive coordinator	Ellis Johnson (4th season)
Base defense	4–2–5
Home stadium	Williams-Brice Stadium

2011 Southeastern Conference football standings

v t e	Conf							Overall
Team		W		L					W		L
Eastern Division
No. 19 Georgia x		7	–	1					10	–	4
No. 9 South Carolina		6	–	2					11	–	2
Florida		3	–	5					7	–	6
Vanderbilt		2	–	6					6	–	7
Kentucky		2	–	6					5	–	7
Tennessee		1	–	7					5	–	7
Western Division
No. 2 LSU x$		8	–	0					13	–	1
No. 1 Alabama  %#		7	–	1					12	–	1
No. 5 Arkansas		6	–	2					11	–	2
Auburn		4	–	4					8	–	5
Mississippi State		2	–	6					7	–	6
Ole Miss*		0	–	8					2	–	10
Championship: LSU 42, Georgia 10
# – BCS National Champion $ – BCS representative as conference champion % – BCS at-large representative x – Division champion/co-champions * Ole Miss vacated all wins due to NCAA violations. Rankings from AP Poll

The 2011 South Carolina Gamecocks football team represented the University of South Carolina in the 2011 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Gamecocks were led by seventh-year head coach Steve Spurrier and played their home games at Williams–Brice Stadium. They were a member of the East Division of the Southeastern Conference and finished 11–2 for the season and 6–2 in SEC play.^[1]

The defending SEC East champions, South Carolina started the season 4–0 and ranked No. 10 in the country.^[1] However, in the fifth game of the season, they lost at home to unranked defending national champion Auburn,^[1] resulting in long-time starting quarterback Stephen Garcia being replaced by Connor Shaw.^[2][3][4] Shaw would subsequently start almost every game until the end of the 2013 season, becoming the winningest quarterback in school history along the way, and never losing at home.^[5] South Carolina would only lose one more game the rest of the season, a blowout on the road at No. 8 Arkansas.^[1] While the Gamecocks finished undefeated against the East Division,^[1] the losses to Auburn and Arkansas left them second in the division standings behind Georgia.^[6] In the Capital One Bowl, they defeated No. 21 Nebraska 30–13, the program's first bowl victory since 2006.^[7] The eleven wins were a school record; it was only the second time in the school's 119-year football history that it won as many as ten games.^[8] They also finished eighth in the final Coaches' Poll and ninth in the final AP Poll—their first-ever top-10 finishes in any major poll.^[8]

The 2011 Gamecocks were arguably the most talented team in school history.^[9][10] They are the only team in South Carolina's history with two future retired jerseys (Alshon Jeffery and Jadeveon Clowney).^[11] Melvin Ingram was a consensus All-American, only the third in program history.^[12] Marcus Lattimore was a frontrunner for the Heisman Trophy until a season-ending injury.^[13] Jadeveon Clowney, the top-ranked recruit in his class, was named the SEC Freshman of the Year.^[14] The team had three future first-round NFL draft picks and sixteen total future NFL draft picks, the most in program history.^[9]

Preseason

On April 10, 2011, the Garnet squad defeated the Black squad, 21–17, in the annual Garnet & Black Spring Game, in front of a crowd of 30,100.

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Rank	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
September 3	7:00 pm	vs. East Carolina*	No. 12	Bank of America Stadium Charlotte, NC	FSN	W 56–37	58,272
September 10	4:30 pm	at Georgia	No. 12	Sanford Stadium Athens, GA (rivalry)	ESPN	W 45–42	92,746
September 17	6:00 pm	Navy*	No. 10	Williams-Brice Stadium Columbia, SC	ESPN2	W 24–21	78,807
September 24	7:00 pm	Vanderbilt	No. 12	Williams-Brice Stadium Columbia, SC	ESPN2	W 21–3	77,015
October 1	3:30 pm	Auburn	No. 10	Williams-Brice Stadium Columbia, SC	CBS	L 13–16	81,767
October 8	12:21 pm	Kentucky	No. 18	Williams-Brice Stadium Columbia, SC	SECN	W 54–3	75,838
October 15	12:21 pm	at Mississippi State	No. 15	Davis Wade Stadium Starkville, MS	SECN	W 14–12	55,418
October 29	7:15 pm	at Tennessee	No. 14	Neyland Stadium Knoxville, TN (rivalry)	ESPN2	W 14–3	96,655
November 5	7:15 pm	at No. 8 Arkansas	No. 10	Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium Fayetteville, AR	ESPN	L 28–44	73,804
November 12	12:00 pm	Florida	No. 15	Williams-Brice Stadium Columbia, SC	CBS	W 17–12	80,250
November 19	12:00 pm	The Citadel*	No. 14	Williams-Brice Stadium Columbia, SC	FSS	W 41–20	76,816
November 26	7:45 pm	No. 18 Clemson*	No. 14	Williams-Brice Stadium Columbia, SC (Palmetto Bowl)	ESPN	W 34–13	83,442
January 2	1:00 pm	vs. No. 21 Nebraska*	No. 10	Citrus Bowl Orlando, FL (Capital One Bowl)	ESPN	W 30–13	61,351
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game All times are in Eastern time

Game summaries

East Carolina

See also: 2011 East Carolina Pirates football team

1 2 3 4 Total East Carolina 7 17 7 6 37 • South Carolina 0 14 28 14 56 Date: September 3 Location: Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, NC

Georgia

See also: 2011 Georgia Bulldogs football team

1 2 3 4 Total • South Carolina 0 14 14 17 45 Georgia 6 7 7 22 42 Date: September 10 Location: Sanford Stadium, Athens, GA

Navy

See also: 2011 Navy Midshipmen football team

1 2 3 4 Total Navy 7 7 7 0 21 • South Carolina 7 10 0 7 24 Date: September 17 Location: Williams-Brice Stadium, Columbia, SC

Vanderbilt

See also: 2011 Vanderbilt Commodores football team

1 2 3 4 Total Vanderbilt 3 0 0 0 3 • South Carolina 0 14 7 0 21 Date: September 24 Location: Williams-Brice Stadium, Columbia, SC

Auburn

See also: 2011 Auburn Tigers football team

1 2 3 4 Total • Auburn 3 6 0 7 16 South Carolina 6 0 7 0 13 Date: October 1 Location: Williams-Brice Stadium, Columbia, SC

Kentucky

See also: 2011 Kentucky Wildcats football team

1 2 3 4 Total Kentucky 3 0 0 0 3 • South Carolina 7 13 13 21 54 Date: October 8 Location: Williams-Brice Stadium, Columbia, SC

Mississippi State

See also: 2011 Mississippi State Bulldogs football team

1 2 3 4 Total • South Carolina 0 7 0 7 14 Mississippi State 7 0 0 5 12 Date: October 15 Location: Davis Wade Stadium, Starkville, MS

Marcus Lattimore was injured during this game and he remained out for the remainder of the season.

Tennessee

See also: 2011 Tennessee Volunteers football team

1 2 3 4 Total • South Carolina 0 7 7 0 14 Tennessee 3 0 0 0 3 Date: October 29 Location: Neyland Stadium, Knoxville, TN

Arkansas

See also: 2011 Arkansas Razorbacks football team

1 2 3 4 Total South Carolina 7 7 7 7 28 • Arkansas 10 14 6 14 44 Date: November 5 Location: Razorback Stadium, Fayetteville, AR

Florida

See also: 2011 Florida Gators football team

1 2 3 4 Total Florida 3 0 3 6 12 • South Carolina 0 14 0 3 17 Date: November 12 Location: Williams-Brice Stadium, Columbia, SC

The Citadel

See also: 2011 The Citadel Bulldogs football team

1 2 3 4 Total The Citadel 7 6 0 7 20 • South Carolina 7 13 7 14 41 Date: November 19 Location: Williams-Brice Stadium, Columbia, SC

vs No. 17 Clemson (rivalry)

See also: 2011 Clemson Tigers football team

Game Twelve– No. 17 Clemson Tigers (9-2) at No. 12 South Carolina Gamecocks (9-2) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
No. 17 Clemson	0	10	0	3	13
No. 12 South Carolina	10	7	7	10	34

at Williams-Brice Stadium • Columbia, South Carolina

• Date: Saturday, November 26, 2011
• Game time: 7:45 p.m. EST
• Game weather: Temperature: • Wind: • Weather: Clear
• TV: ESPN

Game information

First quarter (10:23) SC – Jay Wooten 47-yard field goal (Drive: 10 plays, 48 yards, 4:37; South Carolina 3-0) (6:36) SC – Bruce Ellington 49-yard pass from Connor Shaw (Jay Wooten kick) (Drive: 7 plays, 75 yards, 2:52; South Carolina 10-0) Second quarter (11:32) CLEM – Dwayne Allen 9-yard pass from Tajh Boyd (Chandler Catanzaro kick) (Drive: 12 plays, 61 yards, 4:47; South Carolina 10-7) (6:14) CLEM – Chandler Catanzaro 32-yard field goal (Drive: 5 plays, 11 yards, 1:01; Tied 10-10) (1:55) SC – Connor Shaw 15-yard run (Jay Wooten kick) (Drive: 9 plays, 60 yards, 4:19; South Carolina 17-10) Third quarter (9:52) SC – Rory Anderson 2-yard pass from Connor Shaw (Jay Wooten kick) (Drive: 5 plays, 66 yards, 2:18; South Carolina 24-10) Fourth quarter (13:48) CLEM – Chandler Catanzaro 40-yard field goal (Drive: 8 plays, 13 yards, 2:39; South Carolina 24-13) (6:26) SC – Jay Wooten 37-yard field goal (Drive: 14 plays, 50 yards, 7:22; South Carolina 27-13) (5:20) SC – Alshon Jeffery 18-yard pass from Connor Shaw (Jay Wooten kick) (Drive: 2 plays, 19 yards, 0:41; South Carolina 34-13)

Statistics	CLEM	SC
First downs	12	19
Total yards	60–153	73–420
Rushing yards	30–70	53–210
Passing yards	117	226
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	11–30–1	14–20–0
Time of possession	14:03	22:37

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Clemson	Passing	Tahj Boyd	11/29, 83 yards, TD, INT
	Rushing	Andre Ellington	13 carries, 66 yards
	Receiving	Sammy Watkins	4 receptions, 39 yards
South Carolina	Passing	Connor Shaw	14/20, 210 yards, 3 TD
	Rushing	Connor Shaw	19 carries, 107 yards, TD
	Receiving	Bruce Ellington	3 receptions, 71 yards, TD

Capital One Bowl

See also: 2011 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team and 2012 Capital One Bowl

1 2 3 4 Total Nebraska 13 0 0 0 13 • South Carolina 9 7 0 14 30 Date: January 2 Location: Florida Citrus Bowl, Orlando, FL

Players

Depth chart

Projected starters and primary backups versus Clemson on November 26, 2011.

Defense FS D. J. Swearinger Jimmy Legree WLB MLB SLB ⋅ Shaq Wilson ⋅ Quin Smith Rodney Paulk ⋅ SS DeVonte Holloman Brison Williams CB C.C. Whitlock Marty Markett DE DT DT DE Melvin Ingram Kelcy Quarles Travian Robertson Devin Taylor Jadeveon Clowney Aldrick Fordham Byron Jerideau Chaz Sutton CB Stephon Gilmore Victor Hampton Offense WR Alshon Jeffery Nick Jones LT LG C RG RT Rokevious Watkins A. J. Cann T.J. Johnson Terrence Campbell Mike Matulis Mike Matulis Kyle Harris Travis Ford Ronald Patrick Cody Gibson TE Justice Cunningham Rory Anderson WR Ace Sanders Bruce Ellington QB Connor Shaw Dylan Thompson Key reserves RB Eric Baker WR DeAngelo Smith WR Lamar Scruggs WR Damiere Byrd WR D.L. Moore WR Jason Barnes DE Byron McKnight LB Qua Gilchrist RB Brandon Wilds Kenny Miles FB Dalton Wilson Connor McLaurin Special teams PK Jay Wooten P Joey Scribner-Howard KR Bruce Ellington PR Ace Sanders LS Walker Inabinet H Seth Strickland

Awards

• Antonio Allen – AP Second-Team All-SEC;^[15] AP Second-Team All-American^[16]
• A.J. Cann – Coaches SEC All-Freshman Team^[17]
• Jadeveon Clowney – Coaches Second-Team All-SEC;^[18] Coaches SEC All-Freshman Team;^[19] SEC Freshman of the Year;^[20] Sporting News All-Freshman Team^[21]
• Bruce Ellington – SEC Co-Freshman of the Week, 10/17/11;^[22] Coaches SEC All-Freshman Team^[23]
• Melvin Ingram – Walter Camp National Defensive Player of the Week, 9/11/11;^[24] SEC Special Teams Player of the Week, 9/12/11;^[25] SEC Defensive Player of the Week, 9/26/11;^[26] SEC Defensive Player of the Week, 10/3/11;^[27] AP & Coaches First-Team All-SEC;^[28][29] AFCA All-American Team;^[30] Walter Camp First-Team All-American;^[31] AP First-Team All-American;^[32] Sporting News All-American Team^[33]
• Alshon Jeffery – AP Second-Team All-SEC;^[34] Capital One Bowl MVP
• Marcus Lattimore – SEC Co-Offensive Player of the Week, 9/19/11;^[35] AP & Coaches Second-Team All-SEC^[36][37]
• Mike Matulis – Sporting News All-Freshman Team^[38]
• Travian Robertson – SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week, 10/14/11^[39]
• Connor Shaw – SEC Offensive Player of the Week, 10/10/11;^[40] SEC Co-Offensive Player of the Week, 11/28/11^[41]
• D.J. Swearinger – SEC Co-Defensive Player of the Week, 10/17/11^[42]
• Rokevious Watkins – SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week, 9/5/11;^[43] AP First-Team All-SEC;^[44] Coaches Second-Team All-SEC^[45]
• Brandon Wilds – SEC Freshman of the Week, 10/31/11^[46]
• Dalton Wilson – Capital One Academic All-America Second Team^[47]

2011 recruiting class

College recruiting information

Name	Hometown	High school / college	Height	Weight	40^‡	Commit date
Jerell Adams TE	Summerton, SC	Scotts Branch HS	6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)	220 lb (100 kg)	4.53	Jan 31, 2011
	Star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 76
Rory Anderson TE	Powder Springs, GA	McEachern HS	6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)	205 lb (93 kg)	4.65	Jan 19, 2011
	Star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 79
K.J. Brent WR	Waxhaw, NC	Marvin Ridge HS	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)	180 lb (82 kg)	4.5	Apr 14, 2010
	Star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 75
Kaleb Broome OL	Milledgeville, GA	Georgia Military College	6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)	315 lb (143 kg)	4.97	Jul 23, 2010
	Star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: -
Damiere Byrd WR	Sicklerville, NJ	Timber Creek HS	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)	160 lb (73 kg)	4.27	Feb 4, 2011
	Star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 78
Shon Carson RB	Scranton, SC	Lake City HS	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)	195 lb (88 kg)	4.4	Oct 10, 2010
	Star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 77
Ahmad Christian DB	Jacksonville, FL	Trinity Christian HS	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)	190 lb (86 kg)	4.5	Jan 23, 2011
	Star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 77
Jadeveon Clowney DE	Rock Hill, SC	South Pointe HS	6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)	245 lb (111 kg)	4.6	Feb 14, 2011
	Star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 95
Cedrick Cooper LB	Lithonia, GA	Lithonia HS	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)	205 lb (93 kg)	4.5	Feb 2, 2011
	Star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 78
Gerald Dixon DE	Rock Hill, SC	South Pointe HS	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)	240 lb (110 kg)	-	Jan 4, 2011
	Star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 77
Gerald Dixon, Jr. DT	Rock Hill, SC	Northwestern HS	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)	270 lb (120 kg)	5.0	Jan 4, 2011
	Star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 71
Phillip Dukes DT	Manning, SC	Manning HS	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)	290 lb (130 kg)	5.0	Feb 1, 2011
	Star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 79
Deon Green DT	Orlando, FL	Olympia HS	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)	270 lb (120 kg)	-	Jun 29, 2010
	Star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 78
Kyle Harris OT	Lindale, GA	Pepperell HS	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)	280 lb (130 kg)	4.97	Nov 7, 2010
	Star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 79
Mason Harris LB	Rossville, GA	Ridgeland HS	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)	210 lb (95 kg)	4.5	Jun 7, 2010
	Star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 76
Shamier Jeffery WR	St. Matthews, SC	Calhoun County HS	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)	195 lb (88 kg)	4.6	Nov 29, 2010
	Star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 79
Kadetrix Marcus DB	Stone Mountain, GA	Stephenson HS	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)	190 lb (86 kg)	4.6	Nov 7, 2010
	Star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 80
Ronnie Martin DB	Spartanburg, SC	Spartanburg HS	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)	180 lb (82 kg)	4.4	Aug 4, 2010
	Star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 77
Martay Mattox ATH	Athens, GA	Clarke Central HS	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)	185 lb (84 kg)	4.5	May 17, 2010
	Star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 74
Mike Matulis OT	Lake Worth, FL	Park Vista HS	6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)	275 lb (125 kg)	5.1	Jul 24, 2010
	Star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 76
Tanner McEvoy QB	Oradell, NJ	Bergen Catholic HS	6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)	210 lb (95 kg)	4.6	Jan 20, 2011
	Star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 78
Quincy McKinney OL	Columbus, GA	Carver HS	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)	295 lb (134 kg)	-	Aug 25, 2010
	Star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 78
Edward Muldrow LB	Snellville, GA	South Gwinnett HS	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)	190 lb (86 kg)	4.7	Jun 19, 2010
	Star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 79
Drew Owens TE	Charlotte, NC	Ardrey Kell HS	6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)	230 lb (100 kg)	4.8	Dec 20, 2010
	Star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 79
Kelcy Quarles DT	Fork Union, VA	Fork Union Military Academy	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)	265 lb (120 kg)	-	Nov 24, 2008
	Star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: -
Marcquis Roberts LB	Powder Springs, GA	McEachern HS	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)	205 lb (93 kg)	4.7	Jan 19, 2011
	Star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 78
Sheldon Royster DB	Jersey City, NJ	St. Peter's Prep	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)	190 lb (86 kg)	-	Jan 20, 2011
	Star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 77
Brandon Shell OL	Charleston, SC	Goose Creek HS	6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)	310 lb (140 kg)	5.35	Nov 1, 2010
	Star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 79
Will Sport OL	Pace, FL	Pace HS	6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)	275 lb (125 kg)	-	Oct 4, 2010
	Star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 76
Angelo Watley LB	Suwanee, GA	Peachtree Ridge HS	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)	230 lb (100 kg)	-	Jun 25, 2010
	Star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 76
Brandon Wilds RB	Blythewood, SC	Blythewood HS	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)	220 lb (100 kg)	4.5	Aug 19, 2010
	Star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 76
Brison Williams DB	Fork Union, VA	Fork Union Military Academy	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)	200 lb (91 kg)	-	Aug 25, 2010
	Star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: -
Overall recruiting rankings: Scout: 12   Rivals: 18  ESPN: 15
‡ Refers to 40 yard dash Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height, weight and 40 time. In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale. Sources: "South Carolina Signee List 2011". Rivals.com. "Scout.com Football Recruiting: South Carolina". Scout.com. "2011 Player Signees- South Carolina". ESPN.com. "Scout.com Team Recruiting Rankings". Scout.com. "2011 Team Ranking". Rivals.com.

NCAA investigation

The University of South Carolina was investigated in 2011 by the NCAA after it came to light that student-athletes (including some football players) had received an estimated $59,000 in impermissible benefits, mainly the result of discounted living expenses at a local hotel.^[48] The school imposed its own punishment, paying $18,500 in fines and cutting three football scholarships in each of the 2013 and 2014 seasons.^[49] The school also reduced its official visits for the 2012–13 year, from 56 to 30. The NCAA ruled this self-imposed punishment as adequate, stating that "the violations were limited in scope" and "there was no unethical conduct in this case", and went on to praise the school's handling of the affair, with the chairman of the NCAA infractions committee stating, "This has been one of the best cases I have seen from a process standpoint. . . . In this case, it was obvious to the committee that the university wanted to get to the truth." The commissioner went on to state that USC "wanted to ask all the hard questions of all the right people and, in some cases, they even went beyond what the NCAA staff was doing."^[50]

Rankings

See also: 2011 NCAA Division I FBS football rankings

Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking

	Week
Poll	Pre	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	Final
AP	12	12	10	12	10	18	15	14	14	10	15	14	14	14	10	9
Coaches	12	12	11	10	9	14	13	12	14	10	15	14	13	13	9	8
Harris	Not released						15	13	14	11	16	15	13	14	9	Not released
BCS	Not released							14	13	9	13	12	12	12	9	Not released

Coaching staff

• Steve Spurrier – Head coach^[51]
• Ellis Johnson – Assistant head coach, defensive coordinator^[52]
• Lorenzo Ward – Defensive coordinator, cornerbacks coach^[53]
• John Butler – Special teams coordinator^[54]
• Shawn Elliott – Offensive line coach, running game coordinator^[55]
• Craig Fitzgerald – Strength & conditioning coach^[56]
• Jay Graham – Running backs and tight ends coach^[57]
• Jeep Hunter – Safeties coach^[58]
• Brad Lawing – Defensive line coach^[59]
• G. A. Mangus – Quarterbacks coach^[60]
• Steve Spurrier, Jr. – Wide receivers coach^[61]

References

1. "2011 South Carolina Gamecocks Schedule and Results". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved September 30, 2024.
2. "Shaw Named Starter For Saturday". University of South Carolina Athletics. October 3, 2011. Retrieved September 30, 2024.
3. "Stephen Garcia College Gamelog". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved September 30, 2024.
4. "Garcia Dismissed from Football Team". University of South Carolina Athletics. October 11, 2011. Retrieved September 30, 2024.
5. "Connor Shaw". University of South Carolina Athletics. June 22, 2018. Retrieved September 30, 2024.
6. "2011 Southeastern Conference Year Summary". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved October 3, 2024.
7. "South Carolina Gamecocks Bowls". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved October 3, 2024.
8. "South Carolina Gamecocks College Football History, Stats, Records". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved September 30, 2024.
9. "DraftHistory.com". www.drafthistory.com. Retrieved September 30, 2024.
10. "South Carolina Football's GOAT Series: Top-10 greatest Gamecock football seasons of all-time". Garnet and Cocky. May 12, 2023. Retrieved November 11, 2024.
11. "South Carolina To Retire Alshon Jeffery's Jersey". University of South Carolina Athletics. August 14, 2023. Retrieved September 30, 2024.
12. "South Carolina Gamecocks All-America Selections". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved October 3, 2024.
13. Yim, Miles. "Heisman Trophy 2011: What Marcus Lattimore Injury Means for All Heisman Hopefuls". Bleacher Report. Retrieved December 28, 2024.
14. "Clowney Named Freshman of the Year". University of South Carolina Athletics. December 7, 2011. Retrieved October 3, 2024.
15. Five Gamecocks Named All-SEC
16. Ingram Named First-Team AP All-American
17. Gamecocks Place Three on SEC All-Freshman Team
18. Ingram Named to SEC Coaches' First Team
19. Gamecocks Place Three on SEC All-Freshman Team
20. Clowney Named Freshman of the Year
21. Ingram Named to Sporting News Squad
22. Swearinger, Ellington Honored by SEC
23. Gamecocks Place Three on SEC All-Freshman Team
24. Ingram Honored as Walter Camp National Defensive Player of the Week
25. Ingram Honored by SEC
26. Ingram Named SEC Defensive Player of the Week
27. Ingram Earns SEC Honors Again
28. Five Gamecocks Named All-SEC
29. Ingram Named to SEC Coaches' First Team
30. Ingram Named AFCA All-American
31. Ingram Named to First Team Walter Camp All-America Squad
32. Ingram Named First-Team AP All-American
33. Ingram Named to Sporting News Squad
34. Five Gamecocks Named All-SEC
35. Lattimore Honored For Performance
36. Five Gamecocks Named All-SEC
37. Ingram Named to SEC Coaches' First Team
38. Ingram Named to Sporting News Squad
39. Robertson Honored By SEC
40. Shaw Earns SEC Accolades
41. Shaw Honored by SEC
42. Swearinger, Ellington Honored by SEC
43. Watkins Named SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week
44. Five Gamecocks Named All-SEC
45. Ingram Named to SEC Coaches' First Team
46. Wilds Named Freshman of the Week
47. Dalton Wilson Named to Capital One Academic All-America Second Team
48. "S. Carolina imposes cuts over NCAA violations". ESPN.com. December 14, 2011.
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