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SEC Football: Ranking the top special teams units for 2017

By Erich Hilkert

Sep 1, 2016; Nashville, TN, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks place kicker Elliott Fry (29) kicks the winning field goal against the Vanderbilt Commodores during the second half at Vanderbilt Stadium. South Carolina won 13-10. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 1, 2016; Nashville, TN, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks place kicker Elliott Fry (29) kicks the winning field goal against the Vanderbilt Commodores during the second half at Vanderbilt Stadium. South Carolina won 13-10. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 29, 2016; Columbia, SC, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks wide receiver Deebo Samuel (1) looks for room to run as South Carolina Gamecocks running back Rico Dowdle (23) blocks against the Tennessee Volunteers in the second half at Williams-Brice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 29, 2016; Columbia, SC, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks wide receiver Deebo Samuel (1) looks for room to run as South Carolina Gamecocks running back Rico Dowdle (23) blocks against the Tennessee Volunteers in the second half at Williams-Brice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-USA TODAY Sports /

8. South Carolina Gamecocks

South Carolina is in a difficult position when it comes to special teams. The program must replace South Carolina’s all-time leading scorer Elliott Fry and last season’s starting punter Sean Kelly.

The Gamecocks will try to replace Fry with redshirt freshman walk-on Alex Woznick. Woznick had respectable numbers in high school, connecting on 11-of-15 field goal attempts, but kicking in the SEC will be an adjustment and he has big shoes to fill.

Kelly finished his South Carolina career with an average of 43.3 yards per punt. However, special teams coach Coleman Hutzler has spoken highly of the program’s only scholarship kicker Joseph Charlton. Charlton could be both the team’s starting punter and handle kickoff duties, while Woznick focuses solely on place kicking.

South Carolina returns one of the most electric kick returners in the conference in Deebo Samuel.

Punt returner is more of a question mark. The team tried Rashad Fenton, Hayden Hurst, Chris Lammons and others last season. Expect to see four-star freshman Jamyest Williams given a chance to land the starting job.

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