Very Early look at the Gamecocks defense, "projected starters and depth chart for 2023"
Feb. 06, 2023
South Carolina is on an upswing. Finishing the 2022 campaign 8-5 with wins over No. 5 Tennessee and No. 8 Clemson, USC has folks in Columbia already anticipating next fall.
Quarterback Spencer Rattler is back and should anchor a dynamic offense. What about the defense? Here’s a look at what defensive coordinator Clayton White should have at his disposal:
DEFENSIVE BACKS
Starters: Marcellas Dial (CB), O’Donnell Fortune (CB), Nick Emmanwori (S), DQ Smith (S), David Spaulding (nickel)
Other names to know: Emory Floyd (CB), Keenan Nelson (CB), Peyton Williams (S), Anthony Rose (S), Kajuan Banks (nickel) South Carolina loses some major pieces from this year’s secondary, but next year’s group might be the most talented bunch on the defense. Cam Smith and Darius Rush are gone. The former may well be a first-round pick come NFL Draft time. That said, Marcellas Dial performed admirably opposite Smith and Rush at cornerback this season.
He had more pass breakups than anyone among returning players tying for the third-most passes defended in the Southeastern Conference and holding the third spot for PBUs last year.
O’Donnell Fortune flashed some dynamic ability in the Gator Bowl loss to No. 21 Notre Dame, including his 100-yard interception returns for a touchdown late. Expect him to start opposite Dial at the corner. The former freshmen tandem of Nick Emmanwori and DQ Smith are back in the fold. Both players put together massively successful years in their first years on campus and should return as anchors of next year’s defense. The Gamecocks will also have plenty of other folks to throw into the mix.
David Spaulding should get the start at nickel after being banged up during the 2022 campaign. Youngsters Emory Floyd (CB), Keenan Nelson (CB), Peyton Williams (S), Anthony Rose (S), and Kajuan Banks (nickel) should all find some kind of role in making up an incredibly deep set of defensive backs under assistant Torrian Gray’s watch.
LINEBACKER
Starters: Debo Williams, Mo Kaba Other names to know: Stone Blanton, Donovan Westmoreland, Grayson “
” Howard While experience may be at a premium in the middle of the Gamecocks defense, it may actually be more talented than it was a year ago. Sherrod Greene and Brad Johnson were stalwarts at linebacker last year. The pair played a combined 1,138 snaps in the box, per Pro Football Focus. Still, both players had their limitations upside-wise.
Kaba was slated to be the starting middle linebacker in 2022 before succumbing to a season-ending injury in Week 2 at Arkansas. He’s back in the fold and even made the trip to the bowl game as his rehab continues. Kaba has the potential to be a legit NFL-caliber linebacker, and the Gamecocks could use a healthy campaign from him.
Ex-Delaware transfer Debo Williams should be the man opposite Kaba next fall. Williams has quickly earned a reputation as one of the hardest-hitting players on the squad. He’s seen plenty of action as a backup and on special teams and should be an athletic upgrade over Johnson and Greene. Behind Williams and Kaba, expect Stone Blanton and Donovan Westmoreland to get into the mix. Blanton saw time as a freshman, mostly on special teams, but was thrust into a major role in the bowl game due to depth issues.
Don’t be surprised either if four-star freshman Grayson “” Howard ends up sneaking into the rotation or onto some special teams units. South Carolina internally thinks Howard can be a special talent and has the personality of a future captain. He landed on campus early and even participated in bowl practices. His role might be somewhat small this year, but he’s a big-time name to watch in 2024.
DEFENSIVE LINE
Starters: Terrell Dawkins (DE), Jordan Strachan (DE), Tonka Hemingway (DT), Alex “Boogie” Huntley (DT) Other names to know: Bryan Thomas Jr. (DE), Desmond Umeozulu (DE), Monteque Rhames (DE), DE Tyreek Johnson, T.J. Sanders (DT), Nick Barrett (DT), Elijah Davis (DT)
If there was a group that could weather some departures, it was defensive line at least on the interior. Zacch Pickens is off to the NFL and M.J. Webb has used up his eligibility. However, the Gamecocks should be set with Alex “Boogie” Huntley — who battled some injuries in 2022 — and Tonka Hemingway back in Columbia. Whether Hemingway sticks on the inside might be a bit of a wait-and-see game as well. He’s played defensive end and tackle during a breakout 2022 campaign. Expect White to get creative in how he schemes up the Conway product. South Carolina should also go four or six players deep on the interior this year.
Nick Barrett and T.J. Sanders both flashed in spurts in 2022 and could shoulder heavier loads. The Gamecocks also added JUCO tackle Elijah Davis, who may need a year of polishing but projects as a difference-maker sooner than later. On the outside, the Gamecocks took a hit when former five-star Hammond School star Jordan Burch transferred to Oregon. That leaves a group, in theory, led by Jordan Strachan and a handful of other unproven pieces. Strachan suffered a season-ending injury the same week as Kaba and is in the midst of petitioning for a seventh year of eligibility. The hope is he’ll get that. Former N.C. State transfer Terrell Dawkins received rave reviews in the preseason but also battled injuries most of the year.
He could play some tackle, though the Gamecocks may need him on the edge. It’s also a pretty good bet second-year player Bryan Thomas Jr. and four-star freshmen Desmond Umeozulu and Monteque Rhames get some work here and there. Thomas showed flashes as a freshman despite being thrust into a bigger role sooner than he may have been ready for. Both Umeozulu and Rhames were dominant at the high school level and South Carolina would do well to bring them along quickly. Missouri transfer Trajan Jeffcoat would also project as a possible starter on the edge if the Gamecocks land the former Irmo High standout.
Feb. 06, 2023
South Carolina is on an upswing. Finishing the 2022 campaign 8-5 with wins over No. 5 Tennessee and No. 8 Clemson, USC has folks in Columbia already anticipating next fall.
Quarterback Spencer Rattler is back and should anchor a dynamic offense. What about the defense? Here’s a look at what defensive coordinator Clayton White should have at his disposal:
DEFENSIVE BACKS
Starters: Marcellas Dial (CB), O’Donnell Fortune (CB), Nick Emmanwori (S), DQ Smith (S), David Spaulding (nickel)
Other names to know: Emory Floyd (CB), Keenan Nelson (CB), Peyton Williams (S), Anthony Rose (S), Kajuan Banks (nickel) South Carolina loses some major pieces from this year’s secondary, but next year’s group might be the most talented bunch on the defense. Cam Smith and Darius Rush are gone. The former may well be a first-round pick come NFL Draft time. That said, Marcellas Dial performed admirably opposite Smith and Rush at cornerback this season.
He had more pass breakups than anyone among returning players tying for the third-most passes defended in the Southeastern Conference and holding the third spot for PBUs last year.
O’Donnell Fortune flashed some dynamic ability in the Gator Bowl loss to No. 21 Notre Dame, including his 100-yard interception returns for a touchdown late. Expect him to start opposite Dial at the corner. The former freshmen tandem of Nick Emmanwori and DQ Smith are back in the fold. Both players put together massively successful years in their first years on campus and should return as anchors of next year’s defense. The Gamecocks will also have plenty of other folks to throw into the mix.
David Spaulding should get the start at nickel after being banged up during the 2022 campaign. Youngsters Emory Floyd (CB), Keenan Nelson (CB), Peyton Williams (S), Anthony Rose (S), and Kajuan Banks (nickel) should all find some kind of role in making up an incredibly deep set of defensive backs under assistant Torrian Gray’s watch.
LINEBACKER
Starters: Debo Williams, Mo Kaba Other names to know: Stone Blanton, Donovan Westmoreland, Grayson “
” Howard While experience may be at a premium in the middle of the Gamecocks defense, it may actually be more talented than it was a year ago. Sherrod Greene and Brad Johnson were stalwarts at linebacker last year. The pair played a combined 1,138 snaps in the box, per Pro Football Focus. Still, both players had their limitations upside-wise.Kaba was slated to be the starting middle linebacker in 2022 before succumbing to a season-ending injury in Week 2 at Arkansas. He’s back in the fold and even made the trip to the bowl game as his rehab continues. Kaba has the potential to be a legit NFL-caliber linebacker, and the Gamecocks could use a healthy campaign from him.
Ex-Delaware transfer Debo Williams should be the man opposite Kaba next fall. Williams has quickly earned a reputation as one of the hardest-hitting players on the squad. He’s seen plenty of action as a backup and on special teams and should be an athletic upgrade over Johnson and Greene. Behind Williams and Kaba, expect Stone Blanton and Donovan Westmoreland to get into the mix. Blanton saw time as a freshman, mostly on special teams, but was thrust into a major role in the bowl game due to depth issues.
Don’t be surprised either if four-star freshman Grayson “
” Howard ends up sneaking into the rotation or onto some special teams units. South Carolina internally thinks Howard can be a special talent and has the personality of a future captain. He landed on campus early and even participated in bowl practices. His role might be somewhat small this year, but he’s a big-time name to watch in 2024.DEFENSIVE LINE
Starters: Terrell Dawkins (DE), Jordan Strachan (DE), Tonka Hemingway (DT), Alex “Boogie” Huntley (DT) Other names to know: Bryan Thomas Jr. (DE), Desmond Umeozulu (DE), Monteque Rhames (DE), DE Tyreek Johnson, T.J. Sanders (DT), Nick Barrett (DT), Elijah Davis (DT)
If there was a group that could weather some departures, it was defensive line at least on the interior. Zacch Pickens is off to the NFL and M.J. Webb has used up his eligibility. However, the Gamecocks should be set with Alex “Boogie” Huntley — who battled some injuries in 2022 — and Tonka Hemingway back in Columbia. Whether Hemingway sticks on the inside might be a bit of a wait-and-see game as well. He’s played defensive end and tackle during a breakout 2022 campaign. Expect White to get creative in how he schemes up the Conway product. South Carolina should also go four or six players deep on the interior this year.
Nick Barrett and T.J. Sanders both flashed in spurts in 2022 and could shoulder heavier loads. The Gamecocks also added JUCO tackle Elijah Davis, who may need a year of polishing but projects as a difference-maker sooner than later. On the outside, the Gamecocks took a hit when former five-star Hammond School star Jordan Burch transferred to Oregon. That leaves a group, in theory, led by Jordan Strachan and a handful of other unproven pieces. Strachan suffered a season-ending injury the same week as Kaba and is in the midst of petitioning for a seventh year of eligibility. The hope is he’ll get that. Former N.C. State transfer Terrell Dawkins received rave reviews in the preseason but also battled injuries most of the year.
He could play some tackle, though the Gamecocks may need him on the edge. It’s also a pretty good bet second-year player Bryan Thomas Jr. and four-star freshmen Desmond Umeozulu and Monteque Rhames get some work here and there. Thomas showed flashes as a freshman despite being thrust into a bigger role sooner than he may have been ready for. Both Umeozulu and Rhames were dominant at the high school level and South Carolina would do well to bring them along quickly. Missouri transfer Trajan Jeffcoat would also project as a possible starter on the edge if the Gamecocks land the former Irmo High standout.
