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Today's Date In Gamecock History
July 20th
In the summer of 2007, the Gamecocks got a commitment from their center of the future. Named All-State by the Associated Press, T.J. Johnson committed to USC over Wake Forest before his senior season at Aynor. He also had offers from Vanderbilt, Duke, East Carolina, Maryland, Kentucky and N.C. State. Johnson played in the 2007 Shrine Bowl and was named to PrepStar's All-Atlantic Region team. Rivals.com rated him the #13 center prospect nationally. He redshirted in 2008, then took over as the starting right guard in 2009 after earning Most Improved Offensive Lineman during 2009 spring practice. His play in 2009 earned him Freshman All-SEC honors from the league's coaches as well as honorable mention Freshman All-America from CollegeFootballNews.com. Johnson won the team's Weight Room Effort award in spring 2010, while also moving inside to become the starting center. He was named SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week in the 2010 opener against Southern Miss and earned All-SEC honors from Rivals.com and second team All-SEC from Phil Steele. Johnson also made the SEC Academic Honor Roll was named to the All-Sophomore team by CollegeFootballNews.com. In the spring of 2011 Johnson won the team's Harold White GPA Award and that season made the SEC Academic Honor Roll for the second straight year, while starting all 13 games and earning a spot on the Rimington Award watch list for the nation's top center. Johnson was named second team All-SEC in the 2012 pre-season and earned his second SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week award for his play in the win over Georgia. He was chosen for the East-West Shrine Game following his senior year. Johnson finished his career having started a school record 53 games. He was drafted by the Bengals in the seventh round has played for them since 2013.

Birthdays
SportAthletePositionHometownBeginEndNote
FB Ray Bingham Offensive Guard Kingstree, SC 1983 1984 Shrine Bowler was rated as #1 HS OL in SC; career ended by fractured neck in 1984 opener
BB Josh McDonald Pitcher Lexington, SC 2005 2005 Lexington native made 5 scoreless relief appearances, giving up just 3 hits in 5 innings

Games Played on July 20th
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Softball
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