What South Carolina’s four-star freshman lineman is already showing the coaches
Much of the hype around South Carolina football’s incoming defenders has centered on five-star lineman Zacch Pickens.
But he was joined in enrolling early by four-star lineman Joseph Anderson, and the Tennessee product has also been getting his feet wet in college ball.
“He impressed me,” defensive ends/Bucks coach Mike Peterson said. “”The first day, I was on him pretty hard. He comes in with a high school mentality. He was an oozer. He oozed around a little bit. He’s been getting better and better.”
Peterson works with Anderson when the defense is in its four-down looks. In three-down looks, he hands off the 6-foot-4, 260 pounder to line coach John Scott Jr.
The coach joked he’s pushed Anderson and the rest of his linemen to live fast. East fast, walk fast, talk fast, maybe they’ll play fast.
But he’s also seen a tenacity and dedication from his new charge.
“He’s another guy that comes in after practice wanting to know what he’s doing good, what he’s not doing so good,” Peterson said.
Not every player wants to deal with that, especially coming out of high school where everything came a little easier.
Anderson was the centerpiece for a state championship team in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. His defense allowed 7.3 points per game, and a total of seven combined points in the final four games of the playoff.
He dislocated his elbow in Week 1 but still posted 60 tackles with 16 tackles for loss and three sacks.
At the moment, he offers South Carolina a more stout presence than they had last year on the outside and is working alongside Kingsley Enagbare and Aaron Sterling.
“He can do a number of things for you,” Peterson said. “He’s probably built like an inside guy, but he can play on the outside for you. He’s showed some flashes of rushing the passer, which I’m been impressed with. Now we’ve just got to get that motor running.”
Notes:
▪ Peterson said D.J. Wonnum, Rodricus Fitten and Brad Johnson are his primary Bucks.
▪ Strongside linebacker currently only has Eldridge Thompson playing there. Daniel Fennell will return there when he’s back from a torn ACL.