Ever since South Carolina freshman Jaycee Horn arrived over the summer and started competing in preseason camp for playing time in the defensive backfield his name has not stopped being mentioned by his teammates.

Five months later as he prepares for his final game played in his first year with the Gamecocks, Horn has built a reputation even his older teammates respect.

He’s battled his teammates in practice.

“He’s a dog. I like how he plays,” sophomore wide receiver Shi Smith said. “Yeah [he’s gotten me] most of the time. Both, really, [his coverage skills and his tackling], he’s pretty good.”

He’s even talked smack to his own quarterback.

“In fall camp I probably didn’t talk to him because he got me a few times and was making me mad,” junior Jake Bentley said. “He’s just got the mindset that no one can run past him. No one can beat him. That’s what I love about him. Whether or not he makes a play is on him. It’s the just the mindset he has to come out to practice and bring it every day. He’s going to talk junk. He’s going to get in your face. He’s going to make sure you know he’s there. Him and (tight end) Kiel (Pollard) were going at it today. I think Kiel got him and he got Kiel one time. It was just cool to see the competitiveness he brings and that just makes everyone better.”

SEC coaches named Horn to the SEC All-Freshman Team in early December and two days later his teammates and coaches named him the Defense’s Co-Most Productive Player alongside junior linebacker T.J. Brunson, who leads the team with 94 tackles.

Horn is second on the team with eight pass breakups and is two away from passing senior Keisean Nixon (9) for the team lead. Nixon won’t play in the Belk Bowl due to injury. In Gamecock victories Horn had a big pass breakup down the field against Tennessee and some notable ones in the end zone against Missouri.

The 2018 four-star prospect has displayed talent, swagger, toughness and success on the field as a freshman, something that hasn’t been seen in the Carolina secondary since the likes of D.J. Swearinger and Stephon Gilmore.

The college rookie started at either nickel or corner in nine of the 10 games he played this season. Due to a sprained ankle he missed almost all of the Chattanooga game and it held him out against Clemson and Akron. He earned the start at nickel for the season opener, just the sixth Gamecock freshman since 2009 to do so. Names like Stephon Gilmore, Jadeveon Clowney, Marcus Lattimore and teammates Bryson Allen-Williams and Bryan Edwards are on that list.