Predictions for the South Carolina football team's two-deep on defense this fall

South Carolina Football Two-Deep Predictions on Defense:
Defensive End

Defensive end won't be easy to project this fall thanks to the uncertainty surrounding the Gamecocks' personnel packages. In the 4-2-5, more traditional pass rushers will play the position. In the 3-3-5, it will be a mixture of those players and the more athletic defensive tackles (like Tonka Hemingway and TJ Sanders).

The Gamecocks also have a bevy of players who are good enough to be part of the team's rotation at EDGE, but who will emerge as the top guys at the spot remains to be seen.

Predicting who will play at defensive end isn't hard, but determining which players will be in the two-deep is a little more complicated. For the purpose of this projection, two starters and two backups will be chosen:

STARTER, Kyle Kennard

The most proven pass rusher on the roster is transfer portal addition Kyle Kennard. Kennard was a good player at Georgia Tech, and the Gamecocks hope he will be the same in Columbia.

As a player, his best trait is his ability to get into the backfield. With 6 sacks and 11 tackles for loss in 2023, Kennard also tallied two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. He was a defensive playmaker up front last year and will be asked to be the same in garnet and black.

At about 240 pounds, Kennard will never be a run-stuffer. Because of that, he will need some solid run defenders alongside him. However, he still can provide some disruption in the run game with his athleticism and veteran savvy. He is one of the most likely players to start, and he should get a lot of snaps on 3rd downs.

BACKUP, Gilber Edmond

The prodigal son has returned.

Gilber Edmond transferred out of the South Carolina football program after the 2022 season and spent one year with the Florida State Seminoles. However, he is back in Columbia for his final year of college football, and the coaching staff wouldn't have taken his commitment out of the transfer portal if they didn't intend for him to play.

Edmond is one of the truer defensive end bodies on the team as he is not an EDGE tweener who could play outside linebacker, and he is not a versatile defensive lineman who could play tackle. When he gets in the game, he should have his hand in the dirt with hopes of getting to the quarterback.

Edmond will play this fall, and he could play a lot.

STARTER, Dylan Stewart

The most talented player on the South Carolina defense is true freshman Dylan Stewart. The class of 2024 5-star prospect was ranked as the nation's top player at one point in his recruitment, and he already was one of the team's top performers in the Garnet and Black Spring Game in April.

It is rare for true freshmen to start in their first college game, especially near the line of scrimmage, but Stewart is just that good. He is not a guarantee to get the first snaps at defensive end this year, but he is the most likely candidate.

Helping Stewart's chances of starting is his athletic versatility. If the Gamecocks run a 3-3-5 to start the year, he could get snaps at end or at stand-up EDGE in certain packages. In the 4-2-5, he can play end in almost any situation.

Putting Jadeveon Clowney expectations on any player isn't particularly fair, but Dylan Stewart has a clear path to being the best freshman EDGE player in Columbia since #7.

BACKUP, Desmond Umeozulu

Lost in the shuffle a bit last year because of a need for physical development, Desmond Umeozulu had a good offseason. He is up to 245 pounds and seemed like a more physical player during the spring game than he had shown last year.

Umeozulu has elite length and athleticism, so rabbits package duty is a given for him this year. However, with the improvement he has shown so far, a bigger role could be in the cards.

Because of their similarities physically, Umeozulu, Dylan Stewart, Kyle Kennard, and Gilber Edmond (all between 6'4" and 6'6" and 240-250 pounds) could all be vying for similar roles. Stewart and Kennard are, essentially, guaranteed at least a rotational role, but Umeozulu will be part of the picture, as well.

OTHER NAMES TO KNOW

Like defensive tackle, the defensive end spot is impossible to nail down thanks to lots of depth and a variety of different formational options in front of the Gamecock coaching staff this fall.

In addition to the four names above, there are several others who could/should see time at the defensive end position in 2024. TJ Sanders and Tonka Hemingway (and maybe even Monkell Goodwine) will kick out to end some. Elijah Davis could play a similar role as a big defensive end.

Jatius Geer was expected to play a prominent role in 2023 before injuries sidetracked him. He will be part of the rotation if healthy. Bryan Thomas, Jr. is more of a pass-rush-only athlete but will play and has added some weight this offseason.

Linebackers like Jaron Willis, Bam Martin-Scott, Wendell Gregory, and Fred "JayR" Johnson won't play defensive end, but they could get some stand-up EDGE snaps this year. Even more traditional but uber-athletic linebackers like Demetrius Knight and Bangally Kamara could be asked to blitz off the edge in certain 3rd down situations.