To say that the Gamecocks’ defense struggled for most of last season would be the understatement of the year.

With playmakers at all three levels, they never reached the expectations before them until late in the season. However, by then, the damage had already been done as the defense finished in the bottom half of the SEC. As the start of the season is just weeks away, the Gamecocks hope to take strides as a defense and help the team return to bowl season.

To do this, what essential questions on defense must the Gamecocks answer if they hope to accomplish all of their goals?

Will the defensive line actually be the strength of the defense?

Two years ago, Shane Beamer is on record stating that the defensive line was the strength of the defense while being one of the worst against the run and applying pressure on the quarterback. This trend continued last season despite a small improvement against the run. The pieces were in place, and, on paper, the defense looked like it was poised to take the much needed step forward. But, this never happened.

All of the talk this offseason in regards to the defense has centered around the pieces that South Carolina yet again has in place, specifically to the d-line. They return several key contributors from a season ago including Tonka Hemingway, Alex Huntley, TJ Sanders, and Nick Barrett.

In addition to those returning, the Gamecocks are bringing in key players from the portal and the high school level including Monkell Goodwine, Kyle Kennard, Gilber Edmond, Dylan Stewart, and DeAndre Jules. All of these players are transferring from other power five programs except for Dylan Stewart who is a five star freshman and the third ranked defensive end in his class. 

There is no question that the talent and depth is there for the defensive line to finally emerge as the strength of the defense. 

That said, this has been the expectation for the last couple of seasons and it has not come to fruition. 

I think a more specific question is will the defensive line automatically improve as key contributors return despite their struggles from a season ago? If not, will the addition of the newcomers fill in the holes to this group and give it the spark it needs?

If the answer to this is yes, I think big things could be in store for the defense next season.‍

Do the Gamecocks have the depth at linebacker and defensive back?

The old adage “you can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink” is the essence of the question here. The defensive line can do its part and wreak havoc, but if the linebackers and secondary don’t take advantage of that, it will all be for nothing.

We know there is talent in these groups. Debo Williams returns at linebacker after a breakout season and will look to take another step forward. DQ Smith, Nick Emmanwori, O’Donnell Fortune, and Jalon Kilgore all return in the backend of the defense and will anchor the secondary. 

However, outside of Debo Williams, Bam Martin-Scott is the only other returning LB who has logged meaningful minutes for the Gamecocks and only really came on strong during the final weeks of the 2023 season. Stone Blanton and Pup Howard both hit the portal leaving big questions to the depth of the position.

They are bringing in transfers Demetrius Knight and Bangally Kamara which will help with depth, but as with most, if not all, transfers, you never really know what you are getting especially when they come from a lower level as Knight does. 

Joining these transfers are incoming freshmen, Fred Johnson and Wendell Gregory, but will they be ready enough to contribute if called upon?

In the secondary, several starters are returning which is huge. However, the second cornerback position is still an enigma as Judge Collier is the expected starter, but Emory Floyd, Vicari Swain, and Jalewis Solomon are in the running. 

What if injuries strike the linebackers and/or secondary? What if they never find their answer at cornerback opposite Fortune? Do they have the depth at these positions to weather injuries and/or incompetent play at these levels?

Again, the defensive line can do its part and take as big of a step forward as it wants to. If the linebackers and defensive backs struggle, for whatever reason, the strides along the defensive line will be all for nothing.

Will Clayton White save his job?

This is not a season where Clayton White retains his position as defensive coordinator if his defense produces pedestrian numbers. The talent and depth are there for this to be a defense that finishes in the top half of the conference. 

Assuming that the defensive line takes a step forward, improves significantly against the run, and gets consistent pressure on the opposing QB AND the linebackers and secondary maintain health and play at a high level, how does White respond? Does he get creative and aggressive giving opposing offenses different looks or does he remain predictable and reactive instead of proactive? 

The biggest knock on the defense over the last few years in terms of schematics is that they have been predictable. Some of this has been due to lacking talent at many positions and not having the firepower to dictate to the offense how the game is going to be played.

I think this is the year where the pieces are in place for South Carolina. I am not saying that they will be elite and the best in the conference, but finishing in the top eight will likely mean this is a solid defense and one that is not easy to play against. 

If they underachieve on this side of the ball, they will likely underachieve as a team, which means Beamer’s seat will heat up. If this is the case, to cool his seat off, a drastic move must be made to signify he’s willing to go to any length to succeed which is why White will likely be the one to go. 

Can the defensive line finally emerge as the strength of the defense, is there enough depth to LB and DB to weather injuries and/or incompetent play, and if all goes according to plan, will Clayton White get creative and be the aggressor when his defense is on the field? These are the three essential questions the Gamecocks must answer if they are to take a massive step forward on the defensive side this upcoming season.