3 key questions for South Carolina linebackers, including big-play potential
The State is previewing the 2020 South Carolina football team by position. Today we’re looking at the linebackers.
Key departures: T.J. Brunson
Projected depth chart
Projected starters: Sherrod Greene, Ernest Jones, Damani Staley
Top backups: Rosendo Louis, Jahmar Brown, Mohamed Kaba
Who takes the open weakside spot?
T.J. Brunson gave the Gamecocks three solid years in the middle of the defense, but now he’s off to the NFL. He moved to the weakside last season, and his departure opens things there for two primary candidates: Damani Staley and Sherrod Greene. In 2018, Greene was a starter who struggled, and he lost the job before moving into the lead strongside role. Staley has been a steady rotation player but has never stepped to the forefront. Both should get a good bit of work if the Gamecocks stick with their three-linebacker look, but one likely emerges as the top dog.
How much is Jahmar Brown used?
A highly mobile freshman last fall, he showed a knack for making flash plays but did have some issues with a shoulder injury late in the season. If he takes a step forward, he’s got a considerable ceiling with strong coverage abilities after adding some weight before the start of last season. If he manages to get in the mix on the weakside, it would deliver some much-needed depth and a change of pace.
Can the group overall deliver the high-upside plays?
This has been an issue ever since Skai Moore exhausted his eligibility at USC, and even to a degree before then. The past two linebacker groups have been solid to somewhat solid when healthy. But they haven’t been high in terms of creating havoc. The Gamecocks’ scheme only sometimes gets them involved in the pass rush, but an uptick of impact plays from the middle would be a next step for a defense that lost some pieces.
2020 South Carolina football schedule
Sept. 5 vs. Coastal Carolina
Sept. 12 vs. East Carolina
Sept. 19 vs. Missouri
Sept. 26 at Kentucky
Oct. 3 at Florida
Oct. 10 vs. Tennessee
Oct. 24 vs. Texas A&M
Oct. 31 at Vanderbilt
Nov. 7 Georgia
Nov. 14 at LSU
Nov. 21 vs. Wofford
Nov. 28 at Clemson
