USC's Taylor racks up freshman honors

After starting his first competitive season at South Carolina with a bang, defensive end Devin Taylor ended the year on a good note as well, garnering third-team Freshman All-America honors from CollegeFootballNews.com on Thursday.

Taylor's achievement caps a redshirt freshman campaign that began with him earning SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week in his first collegiate start.The former Beaufort High star recorded six tackles, including three for loss and a sack, along with two forced fumbles and a blocked punt in a 7-3 win against North Carolina State on Sept. 3.

Taylor posted 26 tackles, including five and half for loss and two sacks, a blocked punt and two forced fumbles in 11 games this season.

Other Gamecocks selected as Freshman All-Americans were first-team selections Alshon Jeffrey at wideout and Stephen Gilmore at cornerback.

South Carolina (7-5) will close its season against Connecticut in the Papajohns.com Bowl on Jan. 2 at Legion Field in Birmingham, Ala.