South Carolina’s Abu Lamin aims to turn tide of Gamecocks career

Reading South Carolina defensive tackle Abu Lamin’s official team bio, it’s littered with words of caution.

His duty last season was “limited.” He “hopes to see more consistent playing time in his final campaign.” He’s among the rare few who took a redshirt season in junior college.

And yet, he got time with the first-team defense through the spring.

“It’s been great,” Lamin said. “I’m just trying to get my name on the starter board. I’m working hard. Coach is telling me I keep improving, there’s progress each and every day. I’m just trying to get better.”

Lamin’s work has been around the edges in his first two seasons in Columbia. He had eight tackles in his first year after coming from Fort Scott (Kan.) Community College, then five last season. He was a four-star prospect, but is now coming down to a final season to make an impact.

He had a chance to show his skills in practice, as the new coaching staff has been flexible with who works at the No. 1 tackle spots. With Dante Sawyer out, Lamin, Ulric Jones, Taylor Stallworth and Kelsey Griffin all rotated.

“Abu has come along and played more consistently,” Gamecocks coach Will Muschamp said. “And that’s a huge part of his issue is just being consistent every down.”

During one open practice, as the units rushed together for 11-on-11 work, defensive line coach Lance Thompson called out a tackle pairing just before the team ran on the field. It likely pointed to those positions being in flux through the 15 practices, as the staff looked for more than the defensive front produced a season ago.

Lamin, searching for that larger role the past few years, was just focused on chasing the chance ahead of him.

“I was just ready to play,” Lamin said. “I’m just doing what they need me to do to play.”

This story was originally published April 16, 2016 at 4:22 PM with the headline "South Carolina’s Abu Lamin aims to turn tide of Gamecocks career."