South Carolina football: Tracy Rocker reportedly going to Auburn
By Jacob Elsey
South Carolina football may lose a third coach to Auburn.
Last week, the South Carolina football team learned that offensive coordinator Mike Bobo would be leaving the Gamecocks’ staff to take the same role at SEC rival Auburn. The news broke just a day after his signing a contract extension to remain in Columbia.
Bobo took with him offensive line coach Will Friend, who’d been on the job just two weeks.
Now, it looks like a third assistant coach from the South Carolina coaching staff could be headed for The Plains.
Reports are beginning to surface that defensive line coach Tracy Rocker is planning to join the Auburn staff.
Former Auburn DL great Tracy Rocker, who won the Outland and Lombardi Trophies, is in the mix to return to the Tigers staff under new HC Bryan Harsin, per source. The South Carolina DL coach was the Tigers D-line coach when they won the national title.
— Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) January 13, 2021
Rocker has only been with the Gamecocks for one season, after being brought on by former head coach Will Muschamp. Shane Beamer opted to retain the defensive line coach when assembling his new staff in Columbia, but there was always doubts of whether Rocker was dedicated to the Gamecocks or if he was openly looking for other opportunities.
Rocker was noted as having interest in a number of NFL jobs as early as last week.
There are also some rumors coming about that Rocker left the Carolina football facility without telling other members of the coaching staff, Beamer included.
Source indicates to @GamecockPod that @Rocker2Tracy is gone. Packed up his office and left without telling a soul. #Coward. Was a no-show for staff meeting this AM.
— Keith Allsep (@KAllsep) January 13, 2021
I generally don’t get too worked up over coaches coming and going. It happens. Everyone’s situation is different.
— Jamie Bradford (@SportsMediaJB) January 13, 2021
But, Tracy Rocker pulling this stunt is flat out bull****, IMO.
We will discuss with @jcshurburtt today on @JBandGoldwater
With Rocker leaving the program, coach Shane Beamer has two openings on the staff, one at offensive line and the other at defensive line. Whoever the new coach is, they will have plenty of talent to work with, as the defensive front is South Carolina’s deepest and most athletic position group on the team.
Key contributors include former five-star recruits Jordan Burch and Zacch Pickens, leading sack getter JJ Enagbare, rising sophomores Tonka Hemingway and Alex Huntley, and upperclassmen Rick Sandidge, Jabari Ellis, and Devontae Davis.