Twenty-five seniors will be honored as part of the festivities at Williams-Brice Stadium, Saturday. Although, a handful of seniors, Jake Bentley among them, could utilize an extra year of eligibility and return to the team for the 2020 season. According to Gamecocks head coach Will Muschamp, those discussions will be held at the conclusion of the regular season.

But for seniors and underclassmen alike, the term “Senior Night” conjures emotion. Sophomore linebacker Ernest Jones said, “You’re with these guys all the time. Some of these guys are brothers that I will have for life. These guys will be in my wedding. It’s going to be great to send them out on a high note.”

And for those winding their careers down, like senior defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw, it went too fast, “Coach T-Rob (defensive coordinator Travaris Robinson) always said it was going to fly by. When I was a young guy, I thought, this it taking forever. But, it definitely flew by.”

If Saturday’s game is to finish on a high note, the defense will have to limit a Mountaineers team that is 11th in the country at converting 3rd downs (48.15%). That is a telling statistic as undefeated teams Ohio State, Alabama, LSU and Minnesota rank in the top 10 of the category.

The Gamecocks will have one more home date after Saturday, the annual rivalry game with Clemson. South Carolina will honor its seniors prior to the 7 p.m. kickoff against Appalachian State. The Gamecocks are a 4.5-point favorite.

Defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw

Quarterback Dakereon Joyner

Linebacker Ernest Jones

Cornerback Israel Mukuamu