Legree ready to step up

It’s not official yet, but it seems Jimmy Legree will be back in No. 9 South Carolina’s starting lineup when the 2012 season begins next week.

He hopes to stick there a little longer this time than he did the last. Legree, a junior defensive back from Beaufort, started the 2011 season as the Gamecocks’ free safety, but he lasted two games before being benched in favor of DeVonte Holloman. He recorded five tackles in the final 11 games of the season.

“Kind of got a chance to redeem myself,” Legree said. “I have a chance to step in and make plays.”

This opportunity was unforeseen until last week, when cornerback Akeem Auguste was lost for at least a month to a right leg injury. Legree has been back this fall at cornerback, which he calls his more natural position in the secondary. He filled in last year at safety because South Carolina needed the help, but it didn’t go well.

Both defensive coordinator Lorenzo Ward and coach Steve Spurrier called out Legree on different occasions, and the breaking point seemed to come against Georgia when Legree failed to block after an interception by Stephon Gilmore. Spurrier called the play “embarrassing,” and Legree has not started a game since.

After the season, Legree asked to be moved back to cornerback, and he worked there all spring with the first-team defense as Auguste sat out with a foot injury. Auguste has sidelined so much by injuries that Legree has had plenty of time to get accustomed to playing with South Carolina’s first unit.

“It’s been real helpful really,” he said. “When (Auguste) did get hurt, it was nothing new to me because I was already running with the ones.”

South Carolina secondary coach Grady Brown was hired prior to spring practice and has liked everything he has seen from Legree since then.

“Jimmy has played a lot of football for us around here,” Brown said, “and he’s done a good job for us in camp.”

At 6-foot, 189-pounds, Legree is the Gamecocks’ biggest cornerback, and he believes that size is his best asset.

“I can re-route the receiver pretty good and just run with him then,” he said.

“Jimmy is long, he’s got good hips,” Brown said. “In most cases he has great hands, but he hasn’t caught the ball very well these last few days. You can’t teach length. You can’t teach great hips. I think he’ll do a good job.”

Legree is not shying away from his second chance.

“More excited than nervous,” he said. “I am just ready to step up, take on the responsibility.”

------------

Sign up for text alerts from GoGamecocks: Text alerts are included with your membership. Click here and complete the fields under the 'Text Messaging Information' header, then click the 'Modify Information' button.

This story was originally published August 23, 2012 at 12:00 AM.