How South Carolina’s Stone Blanton is managing unexpected one-sport focus
For much of his athletic career, Stone Blanton could be often be found on the baseball diamond in the spring and summer.
But that’s not the case this year for the South Carolina sophomore linebacker. Blanton isn’t playing baseball for the Gamecocks — even though he planned to — in order to allow his shoulder to completely heal.
“It is a big difference. Usually I am rolling out of one sport into the next. Having this time in between where I could just lock in on football all offseason has been extremely beneficial,” Blanton said. “Just a matter of getting healthy and being a leader in the weight room and our position group. Just being able to talk with the guys, build the relationships and learn from your teammates. I think it will be a huge step in bringing our team closer.”
Blanton hasn’t ruled out playing baseball for the Gamecocks at some point in his career, saying “only time will tell.” He spent time in spring and summer hitting at USC’s baseball facility in hopes of playing this season.
Blanton was a two-sport standout in high school. He hit .250 with nine homers, 35 RBIs, eight doubles and 13 stolen bases during his senior season at Madison-Ridgeland Academy in Mississippi.
As a college freshman, Blanton saw plenty of time on the field after Mo Kaba suffered a torn ACL injury in the second week of the 2022 season. Blanton appeared in 12 of the team’s 13 games, playing behind seniors Brad Johnson and Sherrod Greene and recording seven tackles.
He figures to have a bigger role this season. With Greene and Johnson graduated and Kaba still not cleared to practice, Blanton and Debo Williams were seen practicing with the first team defense during the portion of last week’s practice that was open to the media.
“Been really good to get out there and work with the ones right now. We have some guys out, so it is next-man-up mentality. That is what I have been trying to do, help the team however I can,” Blanton said. “... Last year, I wasn’t very confident. I was a little nervous. It is such a big step and a big stage. From last season to this season, I expect a big jump.”
Blanton has worked with the USC training staff on getting leaner and faster for the upcoming season. He said he’s dropped 6 pounds of fat and added 10 pounds of muscle on his 6–foot-2, 235-pound frame, which he hopes will “take my game to the next level.”
Blanton also is not wearing a shoulder brace for the first time since he was a freshman in high school.
“He’s more vocal. Him and Debo are clicking out there right now,” Kaba said of Blanton. “You can tell he is taking control of the opportunity he has in front of him.”
This story was originally published March 23, 2023 at 7:00 AM.
