Post-spring positional breakdown: interior defensive linemen

As the famous sports adage goes, “defense wins championships.” In football and for South Carolina having a strong defensive line, especially on the inside, can help teams achieve success in stifling opponents’ attacks.

Like many other positions on the roster, South Carolina’s interior defensive line group experienced some changes during the offseason. Here’s how the Gamecocks are looking at the position ahead of the 2023 campaign.

The Gamecocks are breaking in a new position coach in Travian Robertson but do return the bulk of last year’s team.

[Subscribe to Gamecock Central until Aug. 31 for only $29.99!]

Departures

This fall, South Carolina will be without one of its strongest defensive leaders in Zacch Pickens. Pickens, who served as a team captain last season, was the Chicago Bears’ third-round selection in the NFL Draft.

He compiled 131 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks over his four-year career. His infectious personality and valuable leadership skills also contributed to the team’s success on and off the field.

South Carolina saw an additional two interior linemen leave the program: M.J. Webb and Demetrius Watson.

Webb, a sixth-year super senior last year, finished his collegiate football career with 75 total tackles and three tackles for loss. Watson did not appear in any games in 2022 and was redshirted before departing via the transfer portal.

Returnees

Despite these three departures, South Carolina will return a lot of talent and experience at the position.

Tonka Hemingway and Alex “Boogie” Huntley are two veterans who will take Pickens’ place as leaders of the unit. Hemingway started nine games last season and earned career highs in tackles (33), tackles for loss (8) and sacks (4). Huntley added 21 tackles, one tackle for loss and one sack this past season.

[Subscribe for free to Gamecock Central’s YouTube page!]

It will be interesting to see what role T.J. Sanders plays on the Gamecock defensive line once practices resume. In his redshirt freshman campaign, Sanders recorded 16 tackles, one tackle for loss and one sack over 12 appearances. Former defensive line coach Jimmy Lindsey said Sanders showed flashes of potential during spring practices and has helped Huntley and Hemingway in leading his younger teammates, which could mean increased playing time in the fall for Sanders who was the defensive player of the spring.

The Gamecocks will also bring back Nick Barrett, D’Andre Martin, Felix Hixon and Jamaal Whyce for the 2023 season. Barrett, a junior, appeared in all 13 games last season and recorded 14 tackles and one interception. Martin, Hixon and Whyce all received redshirts after seeing little to no action during their freshman year.

Newcomers

Two new faces have joined the position group in the offseason, and each took a different path to get to Columbia.

Last season, Elijah Davis was the top JUCO defensive line prospect in the country, according to the On3 Consensus. Davis compiled 60 tackles, eight tackles for loss and three sacks over two seasons at East Mississippi Community College.

[Get South Carolina football news and analysis via email]

During the Garnet and Black spring game, he showed he was capable of putting immense pressure on offensive lines in Division I. Davis recorded three tackles, two sacks and one forced fumble and was arguably the most productive player on defense in that game.

While Davis went the JUCO route, freshman Xzavier McLeod joined South Carolina straight out of high school as a highly-touted recruit. McLeod, a four-star defensive lineman, was listed as the No. 3 player in South Carolina and No. 195 nationally in the class of 2023, according to the On3 Industry Ranking. He also received the South Carolina Mr. Football Award following his senior season at Camden High School.

Lindsey said he was pleased with how both Davis and McLeod were progressing in spring practice, and the hope is that they both will be integral pieces of the defense this season.

Discuss South Carolina football on The Insiders Forum!

The post Post-spring positional breakdown: interior defensive linemen appeared first on On3.