Rattler, Legette and Mario Anderson among 21 who’ll walk for USC Senior Day
Years ago, before COVID made remaining eligibility feel like a riddle, it was known before the season who would be walking for a program’s Senior Day.
But, these days, it’s more fascinating to see who will — and won’t — participate in the pregame festivities.
According to South Carolina, 21 USC football players will walk out of the tunnel with their family ahead of Saturday’s regular-season finale against Clemson.
The super seniors (who are out of eligibility) walking include: WR Ahmarean Brown, OL Nick Gargiulo, DB DeAngelo Gibbs, RB Dakereon Joyner, TE Trey Knox, WR Xavier Legette, WR Eddie Lewis, edge Jordan Strachan and RB D.J. Twitty.
There are 12 other seniors who will walk on Saturday, but that does not automatically mean they won’t be back at South Carolina next season. If they choose, they can use the extra COVID year, and keep their college career going. They could also opt to enter the transfer portal and have another Senior Day somewhere else next year.
Heading the crop of seniors is quarterback Spencer Rattler, who accepted an invitation to play in the 2024 Senior Bowl. While he still could pull out of that and come back to school, it seems to be a good indication that he will enter his name in the NFL Draft.
Along with Rattler, the other seniors walking include: RB Mario Anderson, edge Terrell Dawkins, CB Marcellas Dial, DB B.J. Gibson, DT Tonka Hemingway, K Alex Herrera, edge Tyreek Johnson, DB Isaiah Norris, WR Ben Rollins, TE Jesse Sanders and DB David Spaulding.
The other interesting part of the announced was those left off. That included senior receiver Antwane “Juice” Wells, who missed most of the the season and announced on Monday night he would return for 2023.
The others seniors who aren’t scheduled to walk are: OL Jaxon Hughes, kicker Mitch Jeter, punter Kai Kroeger, LB Bam Martin-Scott, OL Jakai Moore and OL Jaylen Nichols (who didn’t play this season and could ask for a medical redshirt).
