USC defense is heavy duty

As they flipped through the preseason magazines, Eric Norwood and Jasper Brinkley came across no other linebacking tandems that outweighed them.

South Carolina’s beefy backers are the biggest in the SEC — and beyond, according to Brinkley’s unofficial count.

“We pretty much know we’re probably the biggest duo in the country,” Brinkley said this week.

“We’re going to try to be the best,” Norwood added.

If it appears Brinkley and Norwood are linebackers trapped in a defensive end’s body, that would be accurate. Brinkley played end with his twin brother, Casper, at Thomson High outside Augusta, while Norwood was an All-SEC defensive end last year.

Now they are manning the middle of the Gamecocks’ defense as the heaviest set of inside linebackers in the conference.

Both tipped 270 pounds in the spring, but dropped weight during preseason camp. The 6-foot-2 Brinkley is at 264, while Norwood checked in at 6-1 and 258 pounds.

Still, no one will confuse them with the Gamecocks’ punters anytime soon.

A study of SEC media guides and Web sites found that Norwood and Brinkley were without peer in the heavyweight division.

The only linebacker tandem close to going pound-for-pound with USC’s is the Alabama duo of Rolando McClain (6-4, 249) and Don’ta Hightower (6-4, 250), who is competing with Cory Reamer (6-4, 218) for the Crimson Tide’s weakside spot.

Most SEC linebackers are built more like Georgia’s interior starters — Dannell Ellerbe (6-1, 232) and Rennie Curran (5-11, 220).

Gamecocks receiver Kenny McKinley said he can’t see the forest for the trees when he runs crossing routes against the USC defense.

“Those guys, man, when I go across the middle, they might be the biggest two that I see,” McKinley said.

At SEC media days last month, Brinkley was asked several times whether he had outgrown the position. Season-ending knee surgery last year and a nagging ankle injury during the preseason have slowed Brinkley, but the fifth-year senior brushes off talk that he can’t stay with backs slipping out on pass routes.

As for Norwood, the junior from Acworth, Ga., is growing more comfortable in a position he had not played since high school.

“I’m still working on learning where the DBs (defensive backs) are fitting, so I’ll know where all my support is,” he said. “(Playing) D-line, I knew where the D-tackle was and that’s about it.”

First-year defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson, who moved Norwood to linebacker in the spring, plans on using Norwood at end in certain situations, creating confusion for offenses.

USC coach Steve Spurrier said Norwood will go full-throttle wherever he lines up.

“He’s active. I love the way he plays. He loves to practice, loves the game,” Spurrier said. “He’s full of enthusiasm. He’s got a chance to be a big-time player for us on defense.”

Norwood averaged 6.5 sacks his first two seasons and set a school record last year with 19.5 tackles for loss. As much as Brinkley enjoyed playing with his twin brother, Casper, the former USC defensive end who is a rookie with the Carolina Panthers, Jasper appreciates Norwood’s intensity.

“He’s a great player, very enthusiastic and brings a lot of energy to the game,” he said. “I like playing beside a guy like that.”

Brinkley estimates he is about 95 percent recovered from his sprained left ankle, which includes a strained ligament in his heel. Brinkley, whose 107 tackles in 2006 were twice as many as the Gamecocks’ next-leading tackler, said he would definitely play against North Carolina State next week.

Norwood has no doubts about it.

“Right now he’s just not pushing anything. It’s not bothering him,” Norwood said. “He’s just waiting ‘til the game, really.”

Waiting to prove that bigger does mean better.

LINEBACKER DEPTH CHART

“Spur” linebacker

Darian Stewart 5-11 219 Jr. | Playing well at safety/linebacker hybrid spot before foot injury

Antonio Allen 6-2 190 Fr. | Competing with former receiver Larry Freeman for playing time

Middle linebacker

Jasper Brinkley 6-2 264 R-Sr. | 78 percent of his tackles at USC have been solo stops

Marvin Sapp 5-11 229 Sr. | Had solid preseason camp after missing spring following hernia surgery

Weakside linebacker

Eric Norwood 6-1 258 Jr. | Named to second team of preseason All-SEC team before taking a snap at LB

Rodney Paulk 6-0 227 Jr. | Overlooked Columbia native has 22 career starts

Reach Person at (803) 771-8496.