‘I’m coming back.’ Veteran Gamecock defender signs on for sixth and final season
Brad Johnson is coming back for one more season with the Gamecocks.
The redshirt senior linebacker tweeted his intention to return for a sixth and final campaign on Monday afternoon.
“It has been nothing short of an honor to wear the block ‘C’ and represent this great university,” Johnson wrote in his post. “However, Coach (Shane) Beamer and his staff have brought an era of change here that I have never experienced before. The ceiling for this program is nonexistent and I’m excited to be a part of it for my final year here in Columbia. I’m coming back.”
Johnson joins three other senior Gamecocks — defensive back R.J. Roderick, offensive lineman Eric Douglas and linebacker Sherrod Greene — in publicly announcing they’ll be back in Columbia for the 2022 season.
The Pendleton native finished second on the team in tackles behind only All-American safety Jaylan Foster in 2021. Johnson averaged 5.69 tackles per game and recorded 2.5 sacks, one fumble recovery and an interception this fall.
With Johnson now officially back in the fold, South Carolina should have the bulk of its 2021 linebacking corps in place again next year.
Greene played parts of just three games before suffering a season-ending ankle injury against Georgia in Week 3. He’ll slide into the middle of the South Carolina defense alongside Johnson as was projected this fall.
Delaware transfer Debo Williams and former four-star recruit Mo Kaba also figure to get plenty of run at linebacker next year behind both Greene and Johnson as the Gamecocks bolster their depth at the position.
USC does lose senior Damani Staley as he’s used up all of his allotted eligibility. Staley — the son of Gamecocks legend Duce Staley — had a career year in 2021, recording the fourth-most tackles on the team and adding a fumble recovery and two interceptions in place of Greene.
South Carolina also added a few potential pieces at linebacker in its 2022 recruiting class. The Gamecocks have already signed four-star linebacker Stone Blanton out of Mississippi along with former Georgia commit Donovan Westmoreland — though Westmoreland could have some positional flexibility at the next level.
USC inked Irmo standout Nick Emmanwori, who projects as either an safety or linebacker in college depending on the weight he adds and where the Gamecocks have needs, as well.
South Carolina capped its 7-6 season with a 38-21 romp of North Carolina in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl. Johnson recorded four tackles in the victory.
This story was originally published January 3, 2022 at 3:48 PM.
