Gamecock Fanatics
This is a sample guest message. Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!
Pick your starters: Defense
- Thread starter Swayin
- Start date
Here's mine, FWIW:
DE: Jordan Burch (year 2 big fella, time to show out)
DT: Zacch Pickens (see above, but add a year - has not had much of an impact so far)
DT: Jabari Ellis
BUCK: Kingsley Enegbare (potential All-American this year)
MLB: Brad Johnson
WLB: Sherrod Greene (wow we are thin at LB)
CB: Cam Smith
CB: Karon Prunty (portal from Kansas)
S: RJ Roderick
S: O'Donnell Fortune
Nickel: David Spaulding (portal from Ga Southern)
Dime: Jaylan Foster
DE: Jordan Burch (year 2 big fella, time to show out)
DT: Zacch Pickens (see above, but add a year - has not had much of an impact so far)
DT: Jabari Ellis
BUCK: Kingsley Enegbare (potential All-American this year)
MLB: Brad Johnson
WLB: Sherrod Greene (wow we are thin at LB)
CB: Cam Smith
CB: Karon Prunty (portal from Kansas)
S: RJ Roderick
S: O'Donnell Fortune
Nickel: David Spaulding (portal from Ga Southern)
Dime: Jaylan Foster
Look for Tonka Hemingway to make some noise this year.
I think Kaba will also occupy one of those starting linebacker spots sooner than later.
On a side note, Pickens led all DL in tackles last year
I found some of these stats from last year surprising after I took a good look at them. Some did better than I remembered some did not.
http://www.cfbstats.com/2020/team/648/index.html
I think Kaba will also occupy one of those starting linebacker spots sooner than later.
On a side note, Pickens led all DL in tackles last year
I found some of these stats from last year surprising after I took a good look at them. Some did better than I remembered some did not.
http://www.cfbstats.com/2020/team/648/index.html
Last edited by a moderator:
DE: Aaron Sterling (Super Senior who had a very strong 2019 season with team-leading 10.0 tackles for loss and team-tying lead of 6.0 QB sacks. He opened 2020 with pre-season all-conference honors, starting the first 3 games before suffering a knee injury that shut down his season. Sterling has the quickness (when healthy) off the snap, and is a quality edge rusher. Jordan Burch will also get starts in the line of departed SDE Keir Thomas when the need for a bigger End is needed, but this will depend on how well Sterling returns to 2019 form, and how poorly Burch steps up this season. Tonka Hemingway will also rotate)
DT: Zacch Pickens (junior who may be poised to have a break-out season in 2021. Freshman All-SEC honors in 2019, Pickens has appeared inc all 22 games as a Gamecock, with 7 starts last season. Pickens is the #3 returning tackler from last season, behind LB Staley and DB Foster)
DT: Jabari Ellis (Super senior Ellis played in all 10 games last season with 8 starts. Both Pickens and Ellis will have a strong depth behind them, with MJ Webb (2 starts in 2020), Rick Sandidge, Devontae Davis and Alex Huntley who only played in 1 game each in 2020 due to injuries)
Buck: JJ Enagbare (All-SEC break-out star of the defensive line in 2020, suffered an injury towards the end of the season that required off-season hip surgery. Depending on his recovery should be a star for the DL again. Depending on how well Burch steps up this season, Sterling may end up backing up Enagbare, also Georgia State transfer sack machine Jordan Strachan will get snaps here)
LB: Damani Staley (Super senior and leading returning tackler for the defense, he got his first starts as a Gamecock in 2020 and led the team in tackles against Missouri and Kentucky. He has the experience but may fall back behind former Bucks Brad Johnson and Rodricus Fitten who are moving to the LB position)
LB: Sherrod Greene (Super senior Greene is another returning veteran with ample experience, with 25 career starts in 36 total games. Mo Kaba will back him up, and possibly Staley should he lose his starting spot. With the 4-2-5 we're going to deploy, there shouldn't be too much attrition at LB)
CB: Cam Smith (got a break with more playing time and starts when both Horn and Mukuamu decided to call it after the Ole Miss game, and ended up with as many interceptions (2) as either in half the starts. It was most likely going to be his chance this season to step up even had Muschamp not been terminated)
CB: Karon Prunty (Kansas Transfer, has among the most game experience, and was an early sensation with the Jayhawks)
S: RJ Roderick (senior and veteran starter with 22 career starts)
S: Jaylan Foster (former walk-on transfer from Gardner-Webb, now a scholarship player with 5 starts last season. Had the majority of his 43 tackles in those final 5 games. Jaylin Dickerson could also get starts here due to his experience, and the fact that they both have similar first names)
Nickle and Dime: I have zero idea here. Foster could also see snaps at either of these. Dominick Hill, Joey Hunter, Spaulding, Fortune, Rush. Opportunities for all!)
DE: Jordan Burch
DT: Zach Pickens
DT: Tonka Hemingway (Edit: Was just informed that Tonka is up from 270-ish to over 295 plus)
DE: Aaron Sterling
BUCK: Kingsley Enagbare
LB: Mo Kaba
LB: Debo Williams
CB: Cam Smith
CB: Karon Prunty
SS: RJ Roderick
FS: O'Donnell Fortune[COLOR= rgb(102, 102, 102)] [/COLOR]
I also think...hope...we will see Jordan Strachan on the field somewhere in certain situations...3rd and long, etc. (Edit: Was just informed that Strachan is up from 220 to over 240)
There is help up front and not much in the back. Have to stay healthy. I love talk of a new aggressive approach. We have who we have. Coach um up, turn um loose and lets do this!
I actually think Special teams are going to win us a few games. We have a real kicker, one of the best ST coaches in the country and our head coach's last name is Beamer. If nothing else its going to be a priority.
GO COCKS!!
DT: Zach Pickens
DT: Tonka Hemingway (Edit: Was just informed that Tonka is up from 270-ish to over 295 plus)
DE: Aaron Sterling
BUCK: Kingsley Enagbare
LB: Mo Kaba
LB: Debo Williams
CB: Cam Smith
CB: Karon Prunty
SS: RJ Roderick
FS: O'Donnell Fortune[COLOR= rgb(102, 102, 102)] [/COLOR]
I also think...hope...we will see Jordan Strachan on the field somewhere in certain situations...3rd and long, etc. (Edit: Was just informed that Strachan is up from 220 to over 240)
There is help up front and not much in the back. Have to stay healthy. I love talk of a new aggressive approach. We have who we have. Coach um up, turn um loose and lets do this!
I actually think Special teams are going to win us a few games. We have a real kicker, one of the best ST coaches in the country and our head coach's last name is Beamer. If nothing else its going to be a priority.
GO COCKS!!
Last edited by a moderator:
EDIT: Just realized I'm running a pseudo 4-3 and should have some kind of 'Spur/Nickle' out there somewhere instead of 4 down and a 'buck'... I hate to take Sterling off the field but I guess I have to...love that dude! So in his place I'm going with some combination of Jaylin Dickerson and Dominick Hill. Both have good speed and are hovering around the 200 pound mark. I actually like Roderick at some kind of 'Spur' position if either Dickerson or Hill could handle the safety position.
Last edited by a moderator: