South Carolina football has a kicker battle. Who’s competing for the starting job?

Perhaps lost in the shuffle as South Carolina tries to find a new quarterback, deals with a nearly brand-new wide receiver room along with one of the freakiest freshmen in recent memory, the Gamecocks have a position battle that could be the difference between a 5-7 or 7-5 season.

South Carolina needs to pick a kicker.

After last season, veteran Mr. Reliable Mitch Jeter transferred to Notre Dame for his final college season. In his two seasons as South Carolina’s starter, Jeter missed just two field goals (23-25), with both misses coming from beyond 50 yards.

Without Jeter, the Gamecocks have a few options. The most-experienced kicker is Alex Herrera, who enters his sixth season with South Carolina but has yet to attempt a single field goal for the Gamecocks.

New special teams coordinator told The State that Herrera would have been kicker “1A” going into fall camp, but he missed most of spring ball with a heel injury. Though he’s had a “great summer,” DeCamillis noted, his absence creates a real battle heading into August.

“I would say say there’s definitely a competition,” DeCamillis said. “There’s some guys who are gonna be right there with him, in my opinion.”

The candidates to challenge Herrera:

William Joyce // R-Jr. // Spartanburg, SC

Joyce walked-on to the South Carolina roster in 2021 and has yet to kick in a game. He did nail a pair of extra points, though, for the Garnet team during the 2023 Spring Game. “(He’s) really come on and had a heck of a spring,” DeCamillis said. Joyce was also the backup punter and holder last season for USC.

Peyton Argent // R-Fr. // Hoover, AL

Walked-on at USC before last season after a solid career kicking for Alabama powerhouse Hoover High School. In his final two seasons, he missed just three field goals (17-20) and only one extra point (108-109). He was the only Gamecocks kicker to make a field goal in the spring game, hitting from 22 yards out (Herrera attempted a 55-yarder but missed).

Daniel Lester // R-So. // Land O’ Lakes, FL

Another walk-on who joined the South Carolina program in the summer ahead of the 2022 season, but has yet to see the field for the Gamecocks. His roster bio claims he “may have the strongest leg on the squad, just needs to become more consistent,” and could possibly handle kickoffs.

DeCamillis, an NFL special teams coach for 30 years, is no stranger to evaluating kickers. Neither is South Carolina head coach Shane Beamer, a known special teams savant. One of the big tests to determine a starter is seeing who’s best when the game is on the line.

“Coach (Beamer) will try to put them in pressure situations,” DeCamillis said. “You got the whole team around you. It’s gonna be two minutes left. We’re down by two. That type of thing — you try and put them in those situations as much as you can. Scrimmages are gonna be key for them.”

Every kick during fall camp, DeCamillis said, is going to be huge in determining a starter. Every kick will be charted and while DeCamillis isn’t going to solely rely on the numbers, even he admits: “If one guy has made 95% and the other guy has made 85%, you’re dumb if you’re not gonna take the 95% (guy).”

South Carolina players report for fall camp on August 1 and begin practicing on August 2. The Gamecocks open the season on August 31 at Williams-Brice Stadium against Old Dominion.