Gamecocks DB Judge Collier wants to be a playmaker in crucial 2025 football season

As Gamecock football preseason camp comes to a close, defensive back Judge Collier isn’t worried about job security. His goals go far beyond his place on the depth chart.

Entering his third year with South Carolina, Collier’s position is set. He earned the starting job last year as a sophomore and is projected to be a staple of USC’s secondary unit once again. He led the team in pass breakups in 2024 and was fourth in solo tackles among defensive backs and safeties.

But with zero interceptions in three seasons as a Gamecock and a third-round 2026 NFL Draft projection, Collier aims to break out as a playmaker in 2025 and improve his stock before potentially taking the next step in his playing career.

“I just want to make plays on the ball,” he said. “I left a lot of money on the field last season.”

Collier’s lack of interceptions isn’t because of a lack of ability or effort. The Rock Hill product recorded three interceptions at Legion Collegiate Academy, and his 21 career receptions as a wide receiver in high school prove he has the catching ability.

He’s come close a few times at USC, plays he wishes he could have back, he said. But he doesn’t let those moments linger too long.

“They stick with you as a DB,” Collier said. “I’ve still got to remind myself of this now, it’s short term. You can’t let one bad play affect a series. One bad series, bad game. Bad game turns into a bad season.”

Even with the short-term mentality, the missed chances bother Collier, he said.

“When we’re watching film here, those plays pop up and I’m like, ‘Dang, I wish I could’ve had that back,’” Collier said.

Standing out won’t be an easy task for Collier in a DB room that includes projected first-rounder Jalon Kilgore and senior leader DQ Smith. Kilgore led the group with five interceptions in 2024 and Smith recorded one pick as a safety.

There is some production to be made up for with the loss of now-Seattle Seahawk Nick Emmanwori, whose four interceptions in 2024 led him to a second-round selection in the 2025 NFL Draft.

“Obviously, losing Nick was a huge factor in the secondary,” Smith said. “We’ve (brought) guys in to hopefully pick up where he left off and fill in those shoes.”

With eight upperclassman defensive backs, including transfers Myles Norwood and Brandon Cisse, there’s a lot of bodies in the position group trying to cement themselves as cornerstones of South Carolina’s pass defense. But Collier has embraced the competition in fall camp.

“We’re as deep as ever in the secondary room,” Collier said. “It’s a great competition in there.”

Camp wraps up this week, closing with a second scrimmage Saturday, where Collier can once again test himself against the LaNorris Sellers-led Gamecock offense that reportedly recorded zero turnovers in 117 snaps during the first scrimmage Aug. 9.

“I just want to repeat what we did last scrimmage,” Collier said. “Execute at a high level and make plays on the ball.”

This story was originally published August 15, 2025 at 7:15 AM.