South Carolina Football: Way Too Early Predictions for Depth Chart on Defense

With the 2023 recruiting season ending and spring practice right around the corner, many college football fans are already imagining what their favorite teams will look like on Saturdays this fall. For the South Carolina football team (and every other team in the nation), more clarity will exist after spring practice, but it’s fun to imagine the possibilities anyway. It is important to note that the transfer portal will open again after spring practice and rosters may still look different by the time the fall comes around.

A Way Too Early Look at the Depth Chart on Defense

Defensive Tackle

Nose Tackle/Shade/1-Technique: Alex “Boogie” Huntley 

Huntley played well early in 2022 before battling minor injuries the rest of the season. The former four-star recruit has shown impressive strength in the run game and has a high motor as a pass rusher. He could also push out as a 3-technique tackle if Nick Barrett or Xzavier McLeod force their way into the lineup.

Defensive Tackle/3-Technique: Tonka Hemingway

Hemingway is a playmaker at defensive tackle. He has the potential to play outside some, as well, but the appropriately-named Tonka is a player with tremendous upside that he has displayed on numerous occasions so far in his career. He will miss the spring after a minor surgical procedure but that should not affect his role on the team. Elijah Davis and TJ Sanders should factor in here, as well.

Backup: TJ Sanders

A physically-gifted defensive tackle, Sanders is over 300 pounds and moves like an end. His size and athleticism will provide Defensive Line Coach Jimmy Lindsey with some versatility up front. Sanders flashed a time or two last season and plays hard and with emotion, something every defense can benefit from having.

Could Play: Elijah Davis, Xzavier McLeod, Nick Barrett

Elijah Davis is a junior college transfer who will play once he is ready. His talent and versatility upfront will be useful for a unit that struggled at times last season. McLeod is another newcomer, a true freshman, who has elite size. He and Nick Barrett will likely get some snaps against the run and/or at the goal line.

Defensive End

Starters: Jordan Strachan, Tyreek Johnson

One of the biggest question marks of the offseason is the defensive end/EDGE position. Strachan has performed well as a sometimes-starter but is coming off of another torn ACL that will see him miss the spring. Tyreek Johnson has not played much in garnet and black and will battle with Terrell Dawkins and incoming freshman Desmond Umeozulu for the job. Johnson’s experience in the program could give him the edge early on in the year.

Backup: Terrell Dawkins

Dawkins spent much of last season injured, but when he was healthy, the former NC State defensive end was a rotational piece for Outside Linebackers/Defensive Ends Coach Sterling Lucas. Expect Dawkins, Tyreek Johnson, Desmond Umeozulu, and potentially Bryant Thomas Jr. to battle for the second starter spot at end. Whichever players do not win the job likely will still play.

Could Play: Desmond Umeozulu, Nyck Harbor, Bryan Thomas Jr.

Umeozulu is a big-time prospect out of the DMV that will be a multi-year starter at South Carolina. He is talented enough to take the job at some point during his freshman campaign. Thomas Jr. is undersized but gained some experience playing a rotational role last season. Nyck Harbor will NOT play defensive end. However, on extremely obvious passing downs, the Olympic -caliber sprinter might be unleashed off the edge.

LB

Mike/Middle Linebacker: Mo Kaba

As long as he is healthy and ready to go, Mo Kaba will be the starter at Mike. He played very well against Georgia State and early against Arkansas before a torn ACL abruptly ended his season. Kaba is the best linebacker on the current roster and has been in the program for a while now, so his return to the Mike spot only makes sense.

Will/Weakside Linebacker: Nick Emmanwori

This would be a change. Last season’s Freshman All-American at safety is a tackling machine, so fans have wondered if a switch into the box was coming for the Irmo native. Emmanwori could return to safety and perform at a high level just as he did in 2022. However, barring a switch to nickel, DQ Smith is staying at safety (Freshman All-SEC at the position a year ago), and several young players seem ready to play at the position. Linebacker appears to be a bigger need until younger players like Pup Howard, Donovan Westmoreland, and Stone Blanton are ready.

Backup: Debo Williams, Bam Martin-Scott

Debo played a lot last season as the third linebacker, and he seems positioned to resume that role in 2023. Williams plays hard and enjoys contact, so if he can clean up his angles and mental game, he will be a productive player when he spells the starters at linebacker. Martin-Scott played a fair amount of snaps last season, as well, and has shown some impressive instincts. He might be utilized as a pass rusher from the linebacker spot, too.

Could Play: Donovan Westmoreland, Stone Blanton, Pup Howard, Jaron Willis

Westmoreland could factor into the linebacker discussion early, and Blanton saw some playing time a year ago. Pup Howard is a big linebacker who has a future at Mike if he doesn’t grow into an EDGE player. Jaron Willis is a very athletic linebacker. All four of these players could use some more development before being thrust into big-time duty, but they are also all talented enough to contribute if needed.

Nickel

Starter: David Spaulding

Spaulding is coming off of a foot injury that caused him to miss significant time last year. He will miss the spring, but if he is ready, he could be the starter at nickel. When healthy last year, he performed well at nickel and safety. He is a willing tackler and is one of the faster players on defense, so he should be able to keep up with opposing receivers in coverage.

Backup: Keenan Nelson Jr.

Nelson Jr. played limited snaps in 2022 but is a talented player who was a 4-star corner out of high school. Nelson could play rotationally all over the defensive secondary if needed, but he will battle with other young players for those roles.

Could Play: DQ Smith, Nick Emmanwori

Smith and Emmanwori will likely start at other positions, but both Columbia natives could play at nickel if the team needed. If Smith plays nickel, it’s likely as the starter. As one of the fastest and best-tackling players on the team, Emmanwori could move down to the nickel situationally.

Corner

Starters: Marcellas Dial, Kajuan Banks

Dial has lots of experience and had some good moments last season. If he can get more consistent, he will be a very good corner for the Gamecocks, as he has shown an ability to play in man and zone and is a willing tackler. Kajuan Banks seemed to be the first young corner off the bench last season, and with the losses of Cam Smith and Darius Rush to the NFL, Banks will have the opportunity to battle with other youngsters and O’Donnell Forture for the starting job.

Backup: O’Donnell Fortune

The South Carolina native has played here and there during his career at Carolina. OD had his biggest moment in the Gator Bowl when he took an interception 100 yards to the house. He has good length and is not afraid of playing physically both in press coverage and by coming downhill to stop the run.

Could Play: Vacari Swain, Emory Floyd Jr., Keenan Nelson Jr., 

Swain will step on campus as one of the best athletes on the team, but it is unclear which side of the ball he will ultimately play as he could be a weapon on offense. Emory Floyd and Keenan Nelson Jr. both played a few snaps last year and had the opportunity to learn from two NFL corners, Cam Smith and Darius Rush. The competition for the second corner spot behind Marcellas Dial could be a crowded one.

Safety

Starters: DQ Smith, Peyton Williams

Unless DQ moves to nickel, he will start at safety. Nick Emmanwori will start, but he could move down to linebacker, vacating his safety spot. If Emmanwori does change positions, Peyton Williams seems to be a logical candidate to fill in as he was Emmanwori’s replacement after his targeting ejection against Tennessee. South Carolina’s defense allows the two safety spots to be somewhat interchangeable, and the Gamecocks’ versatile players on defense fit in well.

Backup: BJ Gibson

Gibson played a lot of snaps last year. Whenever DQ Smith or Nick Emmanwori moved down into the box as the nickel or linebacker, Gibson was one of the players who would rotate in at safety. He is also coming off of some injuries from the end of last season, so his health could be a factor in this competition.

Could Play: David Spaulding, Jalon Kilgore, DeAngelo Gibbs, King-Demenian Ford

David Spaulding has played at both nickel and safety and played well. He will likely be heavily involved in the defensive back rotation at one or both spots. DeAngelo Gibbs will have lots of opportunities to show if he’s “still got it” as the former 5-star was thought of highly for a reason. Jalon Gilgore will be a very good safety at some point, but he probably needs more time. King-Demenian Ford played a handful of snaps at safety due to some injuries last year and could be deep in the rotation this fall.