They’re long-time rivals, but these Gamecock and Tiger stars still feel like brothers
At the heart of the line on Saturday at Williams-Brice Stadium, one of the key matchups to watch will be South Carolina defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw going against Clemson offensive guard John Simpson.
It’s a matchup that’s been happening, year after year, for a long time now.
Kinlaw and Simpson went to high schools fewer than 10 miles apart — Kinlaw at Goose Creek and Simpson at Fort Dorchester, both just outside Charleston. Simpson was the No. 2 prospect in the state in the class of 2016, Kinlaw was No. 6, according to 247Sports.
The two were selected to the Shrine Bowl and U.S. Army All-American games together, and those experiences forged a bond between the two opponents.
“That guy right there, both of us coming from the same city, got the same dream, playing together, playing against each since like the 10th grade, that’s when I first remember playing against him and every year since then,” Kinlaw said.
“He’s become like a brother to me over time, being in the Shrine Bowl, in the U.S. Army game, we were roommates, so we spent a lot of time with each other those weeks, things like that. So it’s always going to be a good matchup.”
Simpson agreed with Kinlaw, and pointed to the respect he has for South Carolina’s defensive line as a whole, something Clemson coaches and players have repeated throughout this week.
“Me and Javon basically played against each other all throughout high school,” Simpson told reporters. “We’ve been facing each other pretty much every year since then. Those guys are really talented up front. ...
“We both have our tasks and what we want to accomplish in life. Us playing against each other is a big deal, so I guess you could say it’s personal, but it’s nothing negative. That’s my boy. I think he’s one of the best D-lineman we’re going to face. He’s an animal, he’s a different breed.”
And while the matchup between Kinlaw and Simpson will be their final meeting in college, it might not be their last one ever — growing from top high school prospects to future professionals, both Simpson and Kinlaw are considered strong NFL draft prospects. ESPN rates Kinlaw 14th on its draft board and Simpson 85th.
They’re also both midseason AP All-Americans, though while Simpson has plenty of star power surrounding him, Kinlaw will likely draw the majority of the focus, both from outside observers and Clemson’s coaching staff, on South Carolina’s defense. So how does he plan on breaking through and pressuring Tigers quarterback Trevor Lawrence?
“Just play our game, control what we can control, just do what we gotta do at the end of the day,” Kinlaw said. “ ... I treat (offensive lines) all the same. That’s not to discredit them, they got a pretty solid offensive line. So it’s pretty much the same for me.”
