Mason Love's New Coach: South Carolina's Special Teams Evolution

0:00On March 6, South Carolina, punter Mason Love recently learned his special team's coordinator, Joe Decomilis, was leaving for the Las Vegas Raiders. Love missed the coach's calls and found out through social media instead. After two years with the Gamecocks, the Camilis is out and the team will also lose its kicker and long snapper heading into 2026. The Gamecocks have hired Matthew Smiley as the new special team's coordinator to step in. Returners, Nick Harbor and Vicari Swain are sticking around to handle kickoffs and punts. Love remains the constant, expected to start again as punter and holder. Love spoke positively about Smiley, saying the coach is already helping him improve overall. Last season, as a red shirt freshman, he competed for the kicker spot, but settled into punting and holding after William Joyce took over kicks. In spring practice, Love focused on pun drops while freshman Max Kelly and transfer Upton Bellenfant handled field goals. His 2025 stats were solid, with 53 punts averaging 45.1 yards, ranking second nationally among freshmen.

1:06Looking ahead, Love spent the offseason honing directional punting and flexibility to boost his game in the SEC. With these changes, South Carolina special teams aimed to build on last year's foundation.