South Carolina Football’s GOAT Series: Top-15 greatest linebackers of all-time
By Kevin Miller
South Carolina Football’s No. 12 Linebacker of All-Time:
Patrick Hinton
One of the most uniquely-skilled linebackers to play for the Gamecocks, Patrick Hinton (1986-1990) was all over the field during his Carolina career. He began his playing days as an EDGE player who sometimes played outside linebacker and sometimes played defensive end. However, with players like Corey Miller and Willie McIntee playing the same role, Head Coach Joe Morrison and Defensive Coordinator Joe Lee Dunn moved Hinton to linebacker.
The move paid off as Hinton became one of the best coverage linebackers in school history, picking off ten passes in his career (including 3 in one game against NC State) and knocking away numerous others. His impact was not limited to just the passing game, however, as Hinton made over 100 tackles each of his final two seasons in Columbia and was an All-South Independent player twice.