| Year: | 1946 |
| Team: | South Carolina Gamecocks |
| Sport: | football |
| Conference: | Southern Conference |
| Short Conf: | SoCon |
| Record: | 5–3 |
| Conf Record: | 4–2 |
| Head Coach: | Rex Enright |
| Hc Year: | 6th |
| Captain: | Earl Dunham |
| Stadium: | Carolina Municipal Stadium |
The 1946 South Carolina Gamecocks football team was an American football team that represented the University of South Carolina as a member of the Southern Conference (SoCon) during the 1946 college football season. In their sixth season under head coach Rex Enright, the Gamecocks finished the season with an overall record of 5–3, including a mark of 4–2 in conference play, placing fourth in the SoCon. Throughout the season, the team was outscored by a total of 133 to 107.[1]
The team ranked fourth nationally in rushing defense, allowing an average of only 79.6 rushing yards per game.[2] The Gamecocks struggled offensively, ranking 79th out of 120 major-college teams in scoring offense with an average of 13.4 point per game.[1]
Center Bryant Meeks received first-team honors from the Associated Press (AP) and United Press (UP) on the 1946 All-Southern Conference football team.[3] [4] He also received second-team honors from the AP on the 1946 All-America college football team.[5] Other Gamecocks receiving all-conference honor were backs Harold Hagan (AP-3, UP-2) and Earl Dunham (UP-3) and tackle Dom Fusci (AP-3, UP-2).[3] [4]
See main article: 1947 NFL draft. The 1947 NFL Draft was held on December 16, 1946. The following Gamecocks players were selected.[6]
| 7 | 49 | Pittsburgh Steelers | |||
| 9 | 66 | Kale Alexander | Detroit Lions | ||
| 28 | 263 | Jim Hunnicutt | Los Angeles Rams | ||
| 29 | 274 | Claude Harrison | New York Giants | ||
| 31 | 291 | James Atwell | Back | Los Angeles Rams |