USC’s Steven Montac adapting after late arrival to Gamecocks camp

The transition from junior college to the SEC isn’t always an easy one, and it doesn’t help when it’s rushed.

Defensive back Steven Montac arrived from Coffeyville Community College several days into South Carolina’s August camp. But he had a network of teammates to lift him up.

“The transition, it’s not hard, but just coming in so late, it’s tough,” Montac said. “It’s a good transition because a lot of the team helped me play. We’ve got some real good players. DBs helped me a lot. Chris Lammons, Rashad Fenton, Rico (McWilliams), D.J. Smith, Chaz (Elder), Jamarcus (King), of course.”

The Covington, Ga., product spoke to media Tuesday for the first time in his South Carolina career. Montac came, in part, because King, the top junior college prospect in the country and a teammate at Coffeyville, spoke for him, and he has been adapting on the fly to South Carolina’s defense.

The state of the secondary and the lack of depth have been consistent topics for coach Will Muschamp through the offseason.

Montac said the Gamecocks’ defense is more complex than what he ran in junior college but shares some elements. He also noted the team has been working on press coverage around 80 percent of the time during practice.

He expects to see the field come September, and through August, he was used all over the secondary, a development he didn’t see coming.

“They told me to expect nickel and corner,” Montac said. “But safety, I didn’t really expect it. It’s not a bad transition. I’m doing pretty good, just trying to learn every position in the defensive back group, so it could be better for me going into the next level. I’m happy to be doing that.”

Manning his corner

Through the offseason, many outside the program expected King to step into a starting role after South Carolina endured a disastrous season at cornerback in 2015.

But King still hasn’t wrested the full-time job away from his teammates.

“I’m still kind of behind with Rashad Fenton and Chris Lammons,” King said. “But I’m getting reps with the 1s.”

That matches the way things went in the team’s open practices. At 6-foot-2, 180 pounds, King has the kind of size that could allow him to play bump-and-run coverage the way the staff wants.

“I’m learning the new system very fluently, but I’m still kind of confused with some things,” King said. “It’s a process.”

Versatile Fenton

Cornerback Rashad Fenton introduced himself to South Carolina fans last season with a long kick-return touchdown against LSU. Coaches have called him the best cover corner they have going into 2016, but he still wants a special teams role.

Specifically as a punt returner.

“Yes, I feel I should be doing it this year,” Fenton said. “I think A.J. (Turner) might be doing the kick return and I might be doing the punt return but I’m not sure on the official depth chart.”

He’s also been singled out for praise several times by Muschamp, even after moonlighting at nickel in Saturday’s scrimmage because of Jordan Diggs’ injured shoulder. Muschamp called Fenton’s camp performance “outstanding,” and the sophomore remained modest when it came up.

“I think I’m just doing the part, doing everything I can do to make the team better,” Fenton said. “I’m bringing the intensity, making the right plays, doing whatever they’re telling me to do and staying out of trouble.”

Next

South Carolina does not practice Wednesday, then transitions to full game week preparations for Vanderbilt on Thursday.

The first Carolina Calls radio show of the season is 7 p.m. Wednesday and features Muschamp and host Todd Ellis from Wild Wing Cafe in Columbia’s Vista. The show airs locally on 107.5 FM. Next week’s pregame edition of the show is Tuesday night.

This story was originally published August 23, 2016 at 1:44 PM with the headline "USC’s Steven Montac adapting after late arrival to Gamecocks camp."