South Carolina defender who showed promise as freshman moves to new position
Last year, South Carolina freshman Jahmar Brown bulked up to play linebacker in his first year on campus.
He’s slimmed down a bit coming into his second year, and the staff is moving him into a position to cover more ground.
Gamecocks coach Will Muschamp said Wednesday the 6-foot-1, 205-pounder had been moved to safety heading into the 2020 season but will also play some dime linebacker. Brown was a versatile linebacker who excelled in coverage in high school, and the move will ask him to use those skills while shoring up one of South Carolina’s most questionable positions.
“He’s a guy that has done some nice things on the back end,” Muschamp said. “He’s got a really good feel on the back end. He’s extremely bright. He learns well. And looking at him as a dime linebacker, so you really, in essence, have six DBs. on the field.
“It gives us more flexibility to call the game and cover down and disguise better when he’s in the game.”
Brown made six tackles last season, adding one tackle for loss, one pass breakup and one forced fumble.
He played in the first eight games of the season before being slowed by an injury.
He was projected to be in the mix at either strongside or weakside linebacker this coming season, but instead will help out at a position that remains a bit of a question mark. The Gamecocks have Jammie Robinson and R.J. Roderick as top options, but Robinson could also be the top nickel.
Behind that pair, USC has players such as Jaylin Dickerson, who is still trying to stay healthy for a full season, Shilo Sanders, who played sparingly as a freshman, and incoming freshman Joey Hunter.
“I wouldn’t say we’ve completely moved him” Muschamp said. “But he’s still going to play dime linebacker for us and safety.”
This story was originally published August 5, 2020 at 3:36 PM.
