3 key questions for South Carolina defensive backs, including finding reliable depth
The State is previewing the 2020 South Carolina football team by position. Some key questions at defensive back.
Key departures: J.T. Ibe
Projected depth chart:
Likely starters: Jaycee Horn/Israel Mukuamu/RJ Roderick/Jammie Robinson
Top group of backups: John Dixon/Cam Smith/Jaylin Dickerson/Shilo Sanders
Who becomes the fifth guy?
The group at least has its base with Jaycee Horn and Irael Mukuamu outside and RJ Roderick and Jammie Robinson occupying two inside spots. The issue is, a modern defense needs at least five available defensive backs and usually prefers to have more. Where the next wave comes from is unclear. John Dixon showed the most last year, while Cam Smith has the highest upside. Both are corners, while Jaylin Dickerson is a veteran safety if he can stay healthy, and Shilo Sanders played a little last year. At least one from that group — or one from the three freshmen — has a big opportunity ahead. And if more than one steps up, South Carolina could have depth it has lacked the past few seasons.
Will the depth finally be there?
By the end of 2018, the Gamecocks were playing a converted running back in the secondary. By the end of 2019, they were basically playing five guys, with one often getting picked on. Realistically, a secondary can survive with five or six players, but maybe this is the year where a little depth develops. To get there, the team probably needs three more reliable bodies from the set of Smith and Dixon, the safeties or the true freshmen. Each offseason, defensive coordinator Travaris Robinson has been asked and often refers to the idea of an even rotation, but it has yet to happen across four years.
Can the Gamecocks solve their safety worries?
The best the Gamecocks did here under Will Muschamp was the pairing of D.J. Smith and Chris Lammons (with some Steven Montac), which proved to be a solid group that tended to make its tackles and not get burned. Beyond that, the position has always seemed on shaky ground. At the moment, Roderick looks like a surefire starter despite growing pains in his second year. Robinson could be the other face there, but that would leave the nickel position open. Maybe Dickerson or a freshman can stabilize things there, as the team can’t roll out three linebackers even half the time.
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
