What USC’s Kyle Kennard said about decision on Citrus Bowl, USC future
Kyle Kennard hasn’t made up his mind yet on if he will play in South Carolina’s bowl game.
In Charlotte on Monday night as a finalist for the Bronko Nagurski Award — given annually to the nation’s top defensive player — Kennard said he still has not made his decision about whether or not he’ll play in the Citrus Bowl.
Kennard told The State it will come down to a “consultation with my family.”
The Gamecocks will play Illinois in Orlando on Dec. 31.
Kennard, a Georgia Tech transfer, had a breakout season in his lone year for the Gamecocks. He finished with 28 tackles (15.5 for loss), a team-high 11.5 sacks, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.
“I feel like South Carolina gave me a platform to do what I’ve been doing, so I’ll always be grateful and cherish that forever,” Kennard said. “I’ll cherish the relationships I’ve made here, even though it was a short period of time, as far as in the college football world, I’ve made lifelong connections and friends here.”
Kennard is one of several USC starters that could opt out of the game if they chose.
Gamecocks coach Shane Beamer said Sunday night that no player had come to him and said they weren’t playing in the bowl game. And that doesn’t mean some won’t eventually opt out.
Beamer said bowl prep will begin later this week after players are done with final exams. The Gamecocks are scheduled to arrive in Orlandon on Dec. 26.
“I met with some guys last week in my office individually about their decision,” Beamer said. “They’re still certainly on the fence.”
The Citrus Bowl is the only SEC-affiliated bowl game that gets to choose one of the conference’s teams. Whatever non-playoff SEC squad the Citrus Bowl wanted, it would get. And, well, it picked South Carolina over Alabama, Ole Miss and everyone else.
“That’s a strong statement,” Beamer said. “There’s a lot of SEC teams out there. A lot of them that are ranked that aren’t in the playoff. And for them to say, ‘We want the South Carolina Gamecocks,’ is just an awesome statement.”
The jubilation, too, extended beyond just the head coach. Beamer said — in an era where bowl games have lost some luster and opt-outs are common — there is a strong “ground swell” in the Gamecocks’ locker room to compete in the Citrus Bowl and earn a 10th win for just the fifth time in program history.
This story was originally published December 9, 2024 at 5:22 PM with the headline "What USC’s Kyle Kennard said about decision on Citrus Bowl, USC future."
