Zacch Pickens sets sights on degree and more after heartfelt decision to return to USC
After the best season of his college career, Zacch Pickens could have walked away from South Carolina and entered the NFL Draft. Instead, he’s coming back for his senior season in Columbia.
“Zacch could have been a high draft pick if he hadn’t chose to come back. He did it, he came back to us, which we’re thankful for, and if anything he’s gotten better,” South Carolina head coach Shane Beamer said Tuesday during SEC Media Days.
Pickens is scheduled to graduate in December and, ultimately, the draw of finishing up his degree at South Carolina was too large to pass up.
“My mom was really big on it. So if it matters to her, it matters to me,” Pickens said, later adding that “it’s better to get it now while I have the resources I have to graduate.”
Beamer praised Pickens and fellow SEC Media Days attendees Jovaughn Gwyn and Dakereon Joyner for all choosing to come back for another year with the Gamecocks.
“(All) chose to come back because they had goals that they hadn’t accomplishment yet as individuals, but more importantly they were not satisfied with just winning seven games last season at Carolina,” Beamer said.
Pickens comes back with the potential to be the Gamecocks’ best defensive linemen — and one of the best players on the defensive side of the ball.
A highly touted recruit in the 2019 class — the fourth highest signee in South Carolina history — Pickens found a groove in 2021 and played closer to the lofty expectations that come with being a five-star prospect.
Last year he was a force for coordinator Clayton White’s defense, starting all 13 games and serving as a team captain for South Carolina’s games against Troy and Missouri. He ranked third in tackles among South Carolina defensive linemen with 38 and was second on the team in sacks with four.
He plans on playing “the same way but 10 times better” next season in order to repeat the success of his junior campaign.
Pickens in 2021 was named the most improved player during spring practices. This year, he was named most outstanding player on the defense at the end of spring.
“He’s a guy that there’s no complacency,” Beamer said. “He’s continued to get better each and every year.”
The theme of not being complacent with last year’s season is something Pickens said applies to the entire team.
“We all are trying to get better,” Pickens said. “Every time we turn around, we choose to get better. There’s not one thing we take for granted. That’s one thing we are trying to do better than last year. Last year was good, but we are trying to do even better. We are trying to improve every year.”
With South Carolina’s first game against Georgia State just 45 days away, Pickens is confident in the state of the Gamecocks defense.
“I’m gonna keep giving everything I got. As long as Cam (Smith) does his part, I do my part, we’re gonna be good,” Pickens said. “We’re gonna be a good defense. Defense is always gonna be good.”
