South Carolina football has a huge hole on its future roster at the defensive tackle position.
After former defensive line coach Jimmy Lindsey saw his recruiting production slip, he then left to take the same job at LSU after last year's spring practice (he has since been fired), and his departure left new defensive line coach (and one of the best Gamecock defensive tackles ever) Travian Robertson in the tough position to try to recruit late in the cycle.
As it stood, no class of 2024 tackles joined the Gamecocks, but Robertson did a good job piecing things together for the next year by attacking the transfer portal. After the 2024 season ends, however, USC will need some help up front.
The Gamecocks have six players at the position (Tonka Hemingway, Boogie Huntley, Deandre Jules, Nick Barrett, Drew Tuazama, and Elijah Davis; several of those guys play end, as well) who are out of eligibility after next season and three more (TJ Sanders, Monkell Goodwine, Jerome Simmons; Sanders seems likely to head to the NFL after '24) who are done after 2025. Only redshirt sophomore Jamaal Whyce has more than two seasons of eligibility remaining.
Because of that, defensive tackle recruiting is of utmost importance for the South Carolina football program.
One of the high school targets on the Gamecocks' recruiting board is Georgia 4-star tackle Kevin Wynn. On Monday, the class of 2025 player announced his top-10 schools, and South Carolina made the list.
Top 10 💯@tbanks1906 @ChadSimmons_ @RustyMansell_ @TheUCReport @gchstigersfb @GALakeSports @Hayesfawcett3 @lancemccurley pic.twitter.com/xiAqgdtZcA
— Juju (@Jutwoslick) February 19, 2024
South Carolina football is joined in Wynn's top-10 by Southern Cal, Michigan, Florida, Alabama, LSU, Georgia, Florida State, Tennessee, and NC State.
As a player, Wynn is a run-stuffing big man who plays the majority of his snaps at nose tackle. Nicknamed "Juju," he is not an elite athlete from the position, but he is quicker than one might expect from someone who is 6'3" and 320 pounds.
His best strength on the field is..well..his strength. A well-built lower half creates a solid base against double teams, and his power allows him to drive single blockers into the backfield. He also uses his weight well as a tackler, make sure that if he gets a paw on a ball-carrier that they cannot escape.
You can watch some of his film here.