| Three consecutive losses and a sports hernia. This wasn't exactly how the kicker from Hickory, N.C., imagined his career in Columbia coming to a close. But a school official reports that the linebacker-sized kicker is feeling well as he moves past offseason surgery and toward his dream of playing in the NFL. Despite playing two months with a tear in his abdominal wall, Succop led the SEC in field goals per game last season with 1.54. A good indication that something was wrong with the 22-year-old's health was Oct. 11 against Kentucky when he missed 4-of-5 field-goal attempts. Two of these tries were from 50 yards or longer, but Succop had made 78.4 percent (29-of-37) of his attempts in his sophomore and junior seasons combined. Succop, a Lou Groza Award semifinalist in 2006, is as good as any kicker in this year's draft when healthy. And arguably the strongest. Succop was routinely lifting more than his skill-position teammates in the weight room. Performing in front of 50,277 at Davis Wade Stadium didn't faze the then-sophomore, as Succop drilled all three field-goal attempts, punted six times for a 48.7-yard average and rushed once for 16 yards in his first career start as a kicker and punter on Aug. 31, 2006, against host Mississippi State. Succop averaged 42.3 yards on 85 career punts, but none of those numbers came in his senior season as sophomore Spencer Lanning took over those duties. Succop nailed 49-of-69 field goals during his career, including a 48-yarder in the Gamecocks' 31-10 New Year's Day loss to Iowa in the Outback Bowl. Succop finished with three 50-plus-yard field goals, including a career-long 55 at Vanderbilt on Oct. 21, 2006. |
