Gamecocks Pull Preseason CUSA Honors
7/17/2026 1:04:00 PM | Football
DALLAS—Ahead of next week's Conference USA Football Kickoff, the league released its preseason watchlist, superlatives, and Bowl Confidence Index.
Redshirt junior kicker Garrison Rippa was selected as the Conference USA Preseason Special Teams Player of the Year. The First-Team All-Conference USA kicker in 2025 was the league's leading scorer last year with 103 total points and was good on 21 total field goals. This included four makes from 50+ yards and twice tied the school record with 52-yard makes.
His first 52-yarder came at the buzzer to beat Sam Houston and converted another one six days later in a win over Delaware. The Locust Grove, Ga. native had 32 of his 68 kickoffs go for touchbacks.
Joining Rippa on the preseason watchlist were offensive lineman Lucas Mrachkovskiy, wide receiver Deondre Johnson, defensive lineman Jawaun Campbell, and cornerback Tre'Quon Fegans.
Mrachkovskiy started 12 games last season and earned Conference USA All-Freshman honors in 2025. He helped clear the way for a Jax State ground attack that averaged 246.7 yards per game and produced the nation's leading rusher. The redshirt sophomore from Odenville, Ala. allowed just one sack in 923 snaps at center.
Johnson earned honorable mention All-Conference USA honors after leading the team in receiving yardage with 724 on 30 catches with a team-best six touchdowns. The Newburgh, N.Y. native had four games with 100 or more receiving yards, highlighted by 131 on four grabs with two touchdowns in a win at Middle Tennessee.
Campbell made 22 total stops with two for loss in just nine games last season. The junior from DeFuniak Springs, Fla. has started 20 games over his two prior seasons in Jacksonville and has 10 career TFLs from his tackle spot.
Fegans was an honorable mention All-Conference USA pick with nine pass breakups, 36 total tackles, and an impressive one-handed interception in the end zone at FIU. According to Pro Football Focus, the Anniston, Ala. native allowed receptions on just 35% of the passes he was covering the targeted receiver on.
The Gamecocks also had a perfect 100% score in the league's Bowl Confidence Index, voted on by a panel of the league media which reflects the percentage of ballots each team appeared on, proving a confidence score for their likelihood of reaching postseason play.
Jax State will participate in the Conference USA Football Kickoff beginning on Monday at the Lowes Arlington Hotel and Texas Live!
Redshirt junior kicker Garrison Rippa was selected as the Conference USA Preseason Special Teams Player of the Year. The First-Team All-Conference USA kicker in 2025 was the league's leading scorer last year with 103 total points and was good on 21 total field goals. This included four makes from 50+ yards and twice tied the school record with 52-yard makes.
His first 52-yarder came at the buzzer to beat Sam Houston and converted another one six days later in a win over Delaware. The Locust Grove, Ga. native had 32 of his 68 kickoffs go for touchbacks.
Joining Rippa on the preseason watchlist were offensive lineman Lucas Mrachkovskiy, wide receiver Deondre Johnson, defensive lineman Jawaun Campbell, and cornerback Tre'Quon Fegans.
Mrachkovskiy started 12 games last season and earned Conference USA All-Freshman honors in 2025. He helped clear the way for a Jax State ground attack that averaged 246.7 yards per game and produced the nation's leading rusher. The redshirt sophomore from Odenville, Ala. allowed just one sack in 923 snaps at center.
Johnson earned honorable mention All-Conference USA honors after leading the team in receiving yardage with 724 on 30 catches with a team-best six touchdowns. The Newburgh, N.Y. native had four games with 100 or more receiving yards, highlighted by 131 on four grabs with two touchdowns in a win at Middle Tennessee.
Campbell made 22 total stops with two for loss in just nine games last season. The junior from DeFuniak Springs, Fla. has started 20 games over his two prior seasons in Jacksonville and has 10 career TFLs from his tackle spot.
Fegans was an honorable mention All-Conference USA pick with nine pass breakups, 36 total tackles, and an impressive one-handed interception in the end zone at FIU. According to Pro Football Focus, the Anniston, Ala. native allowed receptions on just 35% of the passes he was covering the targeted receiver on.
The Gamecocks also had a perfect 100% score in the league's Bowl Confidence Index, voted on by a panel of the league media which reflects the percentage of ballots each team appeared on, proving a confidence score for their likelihood of reaching postseason play.
Jax State will participate in the Conference USA Football Kickoff beginning on Monday at the Lowes Arlington Hotel and Texas Live!
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