NFL draft expert taking note of South Carolina’s T.J. Brunson

By Ben Breiner

Updated July 26, 2018 9:47 PM

South Carolina football linebacker TJ Brunson Dwayne McLemore dmclemore@thestate.com

South Carolina linebacker T.J. Brunson broke out last season, and last week, Gamecocks coach Will Muschamp called him a “vocal leader” of the defense.

The local product might only have one full season of tape, but he’s caught the attention of at least one draft expert.

Jonah Tuls of Draft Breakdown and USA Today Sports did a few breakdowns of things he liked Brunson doing against Missouri last season. He used coaches film to praise how Brunson read and reacted to the Tigers high-paced offense.

South Carolina linebacker TJ Brunson (#6)... good at football. pic.twitter.com/y17LdR1ODj
— Jonah Tuls (@JonahTulsNFL) July 18, 2018

Brunson again. So good at reading the backfield and flowing to it. pic.twitter.com/k8eHXIbCw4
— Jonah Tuls (@JonahTulsNFL) July 18, 2018

Love to see this kind of reactionary quickness. TJ Brunson reads the screen and immediately takes it away. pic.twitter.com/7OTIMEjdOE
— Jonah Tuls (@JonahTulsNFL) July 18, 2018

This is big time. Third down and Brunson shows the closing burst/reactionary quickness to get on his horse and stick to the running back, making a key stop. pic.twitter.com/dmUpBpVac2
— Jonah Tuls (@JonahTulsNFL) July 18, 2018

Last season, Brunson had 88 tackles, second on the team, 4 1/2 for loss and returned a fumble for a touchdown against Arkansas.

He was the first recruit Will Muschamp saw after he was officially hired and was a reserve his freshman season.

South Carolina will open the 2018 football season against Coastal Carolina at Noon on Sept. 1 in Williams-Brice Stadium.

This story was originally published July 25, 2018 at 6:04 PM.

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