With kickoff less than a week away, the South Carolina Gamecocks are revving up for a pivotal season in head coach Shane Beamer’s tenure. After reaching bowl eligibility in his first two campaigns, the Gamecocks took a step back last year finishing five and seven. A new and improved SEC won’t make this path any easier, as Carolina currently projects to have one of the hardest schedules in the country.
However, it’s not all doom and gloom in Columbia as the Gamecocks return more production on defense than just about anyone else in the country. Eight starters from last year’s squad, along with multiple rotational players who saw significant snaps are all returning. Add in multiple transfer portal additions, and it’s easy to see why there is so much buzz surrounding this year’s defense. Will it be enough to counterbalance the lack of experience on offense though? Let’s find out as we take a hard look at the 2024 South Carolina Gamecock’s defense.
What Carolina Lost on Defense
The biggest loss from last year’s defense is Marcellas Dial. The fifth-year senior was a stalwart in Carolina’s secondary over the past two seasons. Dial led all Gamecocks in passes defended last year with 10, and also recorded 36 tackles with two of those being for a loss. The standout corner was selected in the sixth round by the New England Patriots.
The Gamecock defense also lost a promising young linebacker in Stone Blanton. The true sophomore started all 12 games for Carolina last season, notching 52 tackles, and one sack. Another causality of the modern college football landscape, Blanton elected to transfer last December winding up at Mississippi State.
Carolina also lost veteran EDGE rusher Tyreek Johnson. A six-year player for the Gamecocks, Johnson was a pivotal rotation piece along the defensive line. The seasoned pass rusher appeared in 11 games this past season, with four of those being starts. Although he didn’t hear his name called in the draft, Johnson did sign an UDFA deal with the New York Jets.
Now that we’ve gotten all the notable departures out of the way, let’s get into what looks to be an extremely talented 2024 Gamecocks defense.
Gamecocks Up Front
The defensive line is arguably the deepest unit South Carolina possesses anywhere on the field. Anchoring this stout group is senior captain Alex Huntley. A stalwart on the interior, Huntley is your prototypical defensive tackle. A ferocious run-stopper, he also possesses the ability to rush the quarterback when he’s asked to. As a fifth-year senior, Huntley will look to put an exclamation point on what’s been a stellar colligate career.
The other big man in the middle for the Gamecocks is Tonka Hemingway. The bruising nose tackle started just five games last season but was good enough to earn himself second-team All-SEC honors. In that time, Hemingway recorded 32 tackles, four and a half tackles for loss, and two and a half sacks. Now with his position firmly solidified, the fifth-year senior will look to take that next step alongside Huntley as they both hold down the middle of Carolina’s defensive front.
Coming Off the Edge
Along with two established disruptors up the middle, the Gamecocks also have several extremely talented EDGE rushers playing on the outside. Probably the best among them is senior transfer, Kyle Kennard. Kennard spent the last four seasons at Georgia Tech, where he put up 115 tackles, 21.5 tackles for loss, and 12.5 sacks. Now Kennard looks to bring his pass-rushing prowess to SEC as one of the premier pass rushers in Columbia.
Another highly touted newcomer at the edge position is true freshman Dylan Stewart. A five-star recruit in the 2024 cycle, Stewart was a massive recruiting victory for Beamer and his staff. The Washington D.C. native received immense interest from every program in the country but elected to take his talents to Columbia. In what appears to be a wise decision early on, Stewart has been turning heads since he arrived on campus in the Spring. Talent is hard to keep off the field at any program, and Stewart is looking to show everyone why this season.
Rounding out a talented trio of pass rushers is third-year Bryan Thomas Jr. The talented upperclassman started six games last season for Carolina where he collected 22 tackles and one sack. While he may be a bit undersized at just six-foot-two, Thomas Jr. possesses elite speed along with a lightning-fast first step which the Gamecocks will look to use early and often this season.
The Second Line of Attack
While losing Blanton did sting a bit, the Gamecocks linebacker corps is still extremely formidable. Headlining this group is none other than junior captain Debo Williams. A first-team all-SEC selection in 2023, Williams racked up a team-leading 113 tackles, nine tackles for loss, and one sack. While Huntley may be the leader of the defensive line, Williams is the leader of the defense as a whole. An ultra-physical tackler with NFL speed, Williams will undoubtedly be the heart of the Gamecock’s defense yet again.
The other half of linebacker duo this season appears to be Bam Scott-Martin. Entering his sixth and final year, Scott-Martin will look to fill the hole left by Blanton. Although he only made three starts last year, the rangy linebacker saw his playing time increase as the season went on. Now he’ll look to solidify his role with several talented underclassmen hot on his heels.
No Fly Zone
Rounding out the back half of the defense is a very talented group that should make passing the ball a challenge for any opposing offense. Heading this group is Senior O’Donnell Fortune. The speedy corner started 10 games last season, where he collected 29 tackles, six pass breakups, and two interceptions. The veteran of the group, Fortune will look to fill the leadership role left by Dial.
The second cornerback spot appears to be a toss-up between two promising sophomores. Judge Collier is the first, and while he saw limited action last season, he did actually make two starts. Collier possesses the speed, and playmaking ability to be an exceptional SEC corner.
The other name to watch here is Vicari Swain. While he did not make any starts as a freshman, Swain also possesses all the traits needed to play corner at a high level. It looks as if the two will split snaps until one can separate themselves other.
Lastly, we have the safeties. Both starters from last year have returned, which was a massive win for Beamer’s staff. DQ Smith Jr. will man the free safety spot, where he recorded 73 tackles, and one pick last year. Opposite him will be Nick Emmanwori, who racked up 71 tackles, and two picks last season from the strong safety spot. Having two experienced defenders to anchor the backline will be a massive advantage for the Gamecocks this season.
Final Rundown
It’s no secret that the South Carolina defense has seen an enormous amount of hype, and that’s not without warrant. This is without question the deepest and most talented defensive squad in the Beamer era. It could also very likely turn out to be one the best defenses not just in conference, but nationally. The potential for this to be an elite unit is certainly there, but it’s up to the players to turn that potential into reality. If they can accomplish this feat, then we are in line to witness one of the greatest defenses in South Carolina history.
