South Carolina Football: 99 days 'til kickoff, a look at number 99 Deandre Jules

South Carolina football coach Shane Beamer and his staff brought in a number of strong transfer portal additions this offseason. One of them is big defensive tackle Deandre Jules.

Set to wear #99 this season (there are 99 days before the season kicks off against the Old Dominion Monarchs on August 31st), Jules will be part of a veteran defensive tackle rotation that could be one of the best and deepest position groups on the team.

Jules' former coach with the Pittsburgh Panthers, the well-respected Pat Narduzzi, referred to Jules as a "future NFL player" before the 2023 season. The 6'3", 310-pound Jules is lighter on his feet than one might expect. Drawing on his high school days as a combo defensive lineman, he moves well and transitions from speed to power in a way that is difficult for offensive linemen to handle.

One of three former Pitt Panthers to transfer to the Gamecocks this offseason (along with linebacker Bangally Kamara and defensive back Buddy Mack), Jules will be part of a tackle rotation that includes veteran returners Tonka Hemingway, TJ Sanders, and Boogie Huntley and fellow transfer Monkell Goodwine.

Of that group, he is best suited to get the team's nose tackle snaps when the Gamecocks run their 3-3-5 defensive base and goal line sets. Nick Barrett, Jerome Simmons, and Jamaal Whyce are all big enough to play the nose, as well, and Huntley has played a fair amount of 0-technique, shade, and 1-technique snaps, but Jules has the highest upside at the spot. Barrett and Whyce haven't emerged in several years in the program, and Simmons is enrolling this summer from junior college.

Jules was a part-time starter at Pittsburgh, and he will play a big role for the Gamecocks, too. Figuring out who will start at defensive tackle will be difficult, but depending on the matchup, Jules could get the call.

As a 4-star transfer, Jules joined the program with a large amount of fanfare, so South Carolina football fans almost cannot wait the remaining 99 days until the talented defensive lineman takes the field for the first time in garnet and black.