South Carolina Football Balance Sheet: Team in Black With Staff Changes, Key Returnees
By Jacob Elsey
The defense remains mostly intact, though the Gamecocks will need to replace some production along the front four.
DEFENSE – Black
DL
The defensive line was hit hard with the graduation of first-round selection Javon Kinlaw, fourth-round pick DJ Wonnum, and defensive tackle Kobe Smith. The position group will rely on some new faces as it gears up for next season.
There are options, though. SEC All-Freshman tackle Zacch Pickens will be expected to take over in the middle of that line, as will Rick Sandidge and Jabari Ellis. The end position should get a boost from having Brad Johnson and Kier Thomas back from injury, as well as returning reigning sack leader Aaron Sterling and junior JJ Enagbare.
Former four-star recruit MJ Webb returns to defense after spending last season with the offensive line group. Rodricus Fitten, Tyreek Johnson, and Joseph Anderson look to see their first action after redshirting.
There’s also a great deal of talent coming in with the ’20 recruiting class. Jordan Burch and Alex Huntley are the headliners, both ranking among the top 250 players nationally. Four-star tackle Tonka Hemingway joins them, as do Makius Scott and Gilber Edmond.
Final assessment: There are options, but it’s going to be difficult to match the production of a first-round draft pick in Kinlaw and a four-year starter in Wonnum. Enagbare, Sterling, and Thomas are proven commodities, and Pickens has shown flashes, but it will take a group effort to fill those voids. – WORSE
LB
The Gamecocks return leading tackler and vocal leader Ernest Jones. Gone, though, is teammate TJ Brunson after being picked in the seventh round by the New York Giants. Filling his weakside linebacker role will be left to one of three returning players.
Senior Sherrod Greene is the early leading candidate, though he’s been most effective as a strongside backer when the Gamecocks play more of a traditional 4-3 defensive set. He’s struggled a bit in pass coverage, which ultimately cost him his starting job early last season. It will be interesting to see if he can stay on the field when the team goes to a nickel package (two linebackers, five defensive backs).
Fellow senior Damani Staley is also in the mix after being in the weakside rotation over the last couple of seasons, as is rising sophomore Jahmar Brown following a productive freshman campaign. Providing depth behind Ernest Jones will be middle linebacker Rosendo Louis.
The wildcard here could be newcomer Mohamed Kaba. The top 300 recruit is coming back from an ACL injury that caused him to miss most of his high school senior season, but if he returns to full health, he’s talented enough to push for a starting job. The athletic linebacker was also a member of the track and field team, and enrolled in January after graduating early.
Final assessment: Losing Brunson, a multi-year starter, hurts but the Gamecocks have a leader in Jones. Brown, Greene, and Staley all have SEC experience and should be able to fill in. – BETTER
DB
Back are projected first-round picks Israel Mukuamu and Jaycee Horn. Also returning, is all-conference performer Jammie Robinson. The Gamecocks will need to fill voids left at safety, as JT Ibe has graduated and Jamyest Williams announced his decision to transfer after four games last year.
RJ Roderick expects to take over at one safety position, after starting 11 games last season. Jaylin Dickerson can also make some noise if he can stay healthy. He missed all of last year with a hip injury and all of his freshman campaign with nerve damage in his shoulder.
Other returners include Cam Smith, John Dixon, and Shilo Sanders. Dixon started the season opener last year, while Sanders and Smith redshirted. All three should have a chance at playing time in the secondary.
The newcomers are O’Donnell Fortune, Dom Hill, and Joey Hunter. Hill and Fortune enrolled in January, while Hunter will be on campus this week. Fortune, in particular, has earned some early praise from coaches, and projects to be an option at safety. Hill will most likely provide depth at the corner position.
Final assessment: The Gamecocks return a ton of talent and experience to the secondary. Mukuamu, Horn, Roderick, and Robinson will almost certainly resume starting roles after productive ’19 campaigns. – BETTER
COACHING
The coaching staff on this side of the ball remains largely the same up top, with coach Muschamp and Travaris Robinson heading up the defense. There were a few defections, though, as Coleman Hutzler moved on to the University of Texas and John Scott, Jr. is off to Penn State.
Taking Hutzler’s place at linebacker coach is a familiar face in South Carolina alum Rod Wilson. Wilson was a team captain with the Gamecocks under Lou Holtz, and played quarterback, receiver, linebacker, safety, and spur over his collegiate career. He returns to Columbia following a three-year coaching stint with the Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs.
Taking over the defensive line group will be longtime SEC coach Tracy Rocker. Rocker has over 20 years of coaching experience, with stops including the University of Tennessee, Georgia, Auburn, Arkansas, and Ole Miss. He also spent a few seasons in the NFL with the Tennessee Titans. Rocker will be tasked with replacing all the talent that graduated last year.
Final assessment: Coach Muschamp did a great job of quickly replacing the coaching losses with proven leaders, in particular, Tracy Rocker. With Muschamp and Robinson still heading up the defensive scheme, there shouldn’t be much change. – EVEN