South Carolina football: Center Alan Knott named to Rimington watch list for second straight year|USC Hot Topics|Team BattleGround|College BattleGround

For the second year in a row, South Carolina Gamecocks center Alan Knott was named to the preseason Rimington Trophy watch list. The award, named for former Nebraska center Dave Rimington, is given annually to the best center in college football.

For the second consecutive season, USC center Alan Knott is on the preseason watch list for the Rimington Trophy https://t.co/8NgjLu8nHy

— Hale McGranahan (@Hale_AJC) <a href="

For the second consecutive season, USC center Alan Knott is on the preseason watch list for the Rimington Trophy https://t.co/8NgjLu8nHy

— Hale McGranahan (@HaleMcGranahan) May 17, 2016

“>May 17, 2016

Knott, who burst onto the scene for the Gamecocks as a redshirt freshman halfway through the 2014 campaign, has started 17 career games for South Carolina which ranks third among offensive players going into the 2016 season. There has been talk of Knott possibly moving to a guard slot this year, should offensive line coach Shawn Elliott choose to go with former Freshman All-American and Wake Forest transfer Cory Helms at the center position, but either way, the Gamecocks will need to lean on Knott  and his experience in some capacity on the interior this season. This is a nice way for him to kick off what hopes to be a solid junior year with South Carolina.

The Gamecocks open the season on Thursday, September 1, at Vanderbilt on ESPN. Kickoff for the game in Nashville is set for 8pm ET.