How can sophomore Bruce Ellington win the SEC’s Freshman of the Week award?

The USC receiver is eligible because he is playing his first year of football, the conference said. Ellington shared the honor after finishing with 32 receiving yards, 25 rushing yards, 24 passing yards and 17 kickoff-return yards in Saturday’s 14-12 win at Mississippi State. He accounted for 30 yards in USC’s 79-yard, game-winning scoring drive.

Last season, Ellington started at point guard for the Gamecocks basketball team and was named the SEC’s Freshman of the Week in January after leading USC to an overtime upset over No. 22 Vanderbilt. He also was named to the SEC’s All-Freshman team after leading the Gamecocks in scoring.

The last two-sport athlete to pull off an SEC double was Jeff Demps of Florida, who won freshman-of-the-week honors in track and football.

Asked what it was like to throw passes to receiver Alshon Jeffery and forward Sam Muldrow, Ellington said, “I wouldn’t say they’re a lot different, because both can really catch the ball.”

Andrew Shain