He didn’t grow up playing football.

South Carolina WR Emmanuel Kojo Poku didn’t even start until his junior year of high school — and now he’s competing in the SEC.

From growing up in the Bronx and Charlotte… to developing through soccer footwork… to chasing greatness at South Carolina, Kojo’s journey is built on discipline, belief, and nonstop work.

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From growing up in Baltimore with 8 siblings to being raised by Nigerian immigrant parents, Ebubedike Nnabugwu’s story is built on discipline, sacrifice, and belief. He started playing football at just 4 years old—and from that moment, he knew the goal: the NFL.

In this interview, he talks about modeling his game after Ray Lewis and Ed Reed, the impact of his family, and more.

Now with the South Carolina Gamecocks, he’s chasing something even bigger—an SEC Championship.

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From growing up in Baltimore with 8 siblings to being raised by Nigerian immigrant parents, Ebubedike Nnabugwu’s story is built on discipline, sacrifice, and belief. He started playing football at just 4 years old—and from that moment, he knew the goal: the NFL.

In this interview, he talks about modeling his game after Ray Lewis and Ed Reed, the impact of his family, and more.

Now with the South Carolina Gamecocks, he’s chasing something even bigger—an SEC Championship.

Learn more about our partnership with Garnett Trust & South Carolina Athletics: https://www.collegesportsco.com/news/...

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#GamecockFootball #CollegeFootball #SEC #NFL

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Damarcus Leach is one of the next rising stars in South Carolina football — and in this interview, he breaks down what it really takes to become an elite defensive back in the SEC.

From growing up in a small town in South Carolina to earning playing time as a freshman, Leach shares how confidence, film study, and mindset separate good players from great ones.

He explains how the Gamecocks are building a true “DB factory,” what he learned from veterans in year one, and why playing cornerback is just as much mental as it is physical.

Chapters:

0:24 Meet Damarcus Leach

1:12 Why DBs Need More Than Athleticism

2:04 The Confidence You Need at Cornerback

4:04 Does Playing QB Help You Read Offenses?

5:34 Life Outside Football

9:01 Why He Chose South Carolina

11:44 What He Brings Going Into Year 2

12:47 Leadership in the DB Room

13:37 New Coaches & What They Bring

15:01 First Game Experience at Williams-Brice

18:23 Pre-Game Routine & Mental Focus

20:22 Night Games vs Noon Games Debate

24:28 Most Underrated Player on the Team

25:17 Press vs Off Coverage

27:34 What Film Study Looks Like at South Carolina

28:56 Goals for This Season

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What if the dream you had as a kid actually came true?

Lexi Winters grew up going to South Carolina softball games… even serving as a bat girl. Now, she’s living that same dream as a standout player in the SEC.

In this episode of Carolina Pulse, Lexi shares her journey from childhood fan to Gamecock athlete, the emotional transfer portal moment that brought her home, and what it really takes to compete at the highest level of college softball.

Chapters:

0:42 Meet Lexi Winters

3:01 The Reality of Playing in the SEC

6:29 SEC Mentality Shift

9:14 Proving She Belongs

11:52 Growing Up a Gamecock Fan

13:40 Full Circle Moment

18:37 Transfer Portal Decision

21:01 “I Want You to Come Home”

24:11 First Game Nerves

27:05 “We’re Really Doing This”

28:26 Team Chemistry

32:38 Building a Winning Program

36:18 Life Outside Softball

45:10 Life After Graduation

49:32 Legacy: Confidence & Joy

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Upton Bellenfant and Emmet Rhoades open up about what it’s really like joining South Carolina football — from the transfer portal process to the culture, workouts, and what makes this program different. They give you a sense of what the entire portal experience is like, open up about high school recruiting, and share their anticipation for their first SEC game.

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#gamecocks #secfootball #southcarolina

Kelby Collins isn’t just another SEC athlete — this is the real story behind the highs, the setbacks, and the mindset it takes to keep going.

From being named a freshman standout to facing injuries, position changes, and outside noise, Kelby opens up about what it really takes to stay locked in at the highest level of college football. He also shares what having a lot of SEC freshman success is like, battling injuries, how to block out the media, and the brotherhood at South Carolina.

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Jordan Thomas’ journey to South Carolina football is bigger than the game.

From bouncing between homes and growing up homeless at one point to earning his first first offer and committing to the SEC, his story is built on resilience, family, and relentless effort. In this interview, Jordan shares what it was really like growing up with nothing, how he found football, and the moment he chose South Carolina.

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Caleb Herring’s journey to South Carolina football didn’t start how you’d expect…

Before the offers, before the SEC, before the spotlight — he was getting beat up by his older brothers and struggling on the field.

He didn’t even start playing football until 8th grade — and by his own words, he was “terrible.”

But that adversity? It built something different. In this interview, Caleb talks about having competitive brothers helped him, why he started football late, and why he chose South Carolina.

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#SouthCarolina #Gamecocks #CollegeFootball #SEC

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What does it take to earn a spot in the SEC… without even playing your position?

South Carolina defensive back David Bucey breaks down his unconventional path from linebacker to DB — including the moment he ran drills for the first time and still earned an offer days later.

From spring ball competition, new NFL-level coaching influence, and the mentality inside the DB room… to life outside football — hunting, fishing, and even landing a 200-pound tarpon — take a rare look inside the mindset of a modern SEC athlete.

Chapters:

1:03 Meet David Bucey, a South Carolina Defensive Back

1:19 Spring Ball Summary

2:03 David’s Football Roots

4:14 Life Outside Football

5:27 David’s South Carolina Recruiting Story

7:17 New Coach Impact

10:24 SEC night game atmosphere

11:48 Toughest stadiums in college football

15:01 Rapid Fire Segment

23:02 How DBs Read Offenses

26:42 Life in Columbia Outside Football

Learn more about our partnership with Garnett Trust & South Carolina Athletics: https://www.collegesportsco.com/news/...

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