The South Carolina Gamecocks exceeded expectations in 2024 with a 9-4 season, their best under head coach Shane Beemer. It was also their most successful season since 2013, where the Gamecocks went 11-2. The season set a new precedent for the program, headlined by the defense.
The last time out, we took a look at the South Carolina offense, and how they performed in 2024. In this article, we’ll be doing a position-by-position breakdown of the defensive unit, grading each unit in the process.
South Carolina Gamecocks Defensive Grades
Defensive Tackles: B+
The defensive line had two elite players, and an additional key rotational player. The starters, Tonka Hemingway and TJ Sanders, combined for eight sacks and a pair of turnovers. Sanders led the front four with 50 total tackles, 21 ahead of the next man on the list, Kyle Kennard.
Alex Huntley and DeAndre Jules added depth to the line; they were pivotal in stopping the run, and allowed the Gamecocks to have an effective rotation giving starters time to rest without a significant drop-off in production.
Edge Rushers: A+
Many considered Kyle Kennard and Dylan Stewart the best edge-rushing duo in the country. Stewarts’ 6.5 sacks, 9.5 tackles for loss, and three forced fumbles earned him Freshmen All-SEC and unanimous Freshmen All-American honors.
On the other side, Kennard was even better. Kennard led the team with 11.5 sacks, tallying at least half a sack in every game he played but one. He also forced three fumbles and recovered another two.
These two worked together to compress quarterbacks into uncomfortable pockets and delivered big hits when they had the chance. These two helped to nearly double the Gamecocks’ sack total from 21 in 2023 to 41 this season.
Linebackers: A-
With a crew of Bam Martin-Scott, Demetrious Knight, and Debo Williams as leaders of the South Carolina defense, it’s easy to understand why the Gamecocks excelled. These three players were all in the top four of total tackles for the unit, combining for 191 total tackles.
When coach Beamer called a blitz, they pressured the quarterback, tallying six total sacks. And, more importantly, they gave the players behind them chances to make plays on the ball. They also contributed with five forced fumbles (two recoveries) and an interception. The linebackers set the tone for the team, leading the charge on defense.
Cornerbacks: B+
Judge Collier, Jalon Kilgore, and O’Donnell Fortune were another core group who had their way manning the secondary. Collier earned his starting role during camp, and started all 13 games. His tremendous play earned him Second-Team All-SEC honors, as he led the unit with eight pass breakups.
Across from him, Fortune was third on the defense in solo tackles with 41. His speed and ball-hawking ability shined with his three picks. All that combined to earn an 84.1 PFF grade, the highest on the Gamecocks defense.
At nickelback, Kilgore was tied for the SEC lead, and was fourth in the country in interceptions, with five. Two of them were game-sealing plays against Old Dominion and Missouri. This mark tied Jaylan Foster (2021 season) for the most by a Gamecock in the last 20 years. Kilgore finished sixth in team tackles with 48, an impressive mark despite the tendency of opposing offenses to avoid throwing in his direction. While this group was solid overall, they had trouble handling big-time receiving threats.
Safeties: A-
Nick Emmanwori headlines the team as the most draft-ready prospect. He led the Gamecocks in tackles, snagged four picks and returned two for touchdowns for South Carolina. He won a plethora of awards to recognize his outstanding play, including First-Team All-American, First-Team All-SEC (unanimously), SEC player of the year, SEC defensive player of the year, and Joe Morrison award for MVP of the defense. As one of the most dominant defenders in the nation, he is currently projected to go 21st overall in the upcoming NFL draft, according to ESPN’s Mel Kiper’s Big Board.
Aside from Emmanwori, DQ Smith started 12 of 13 games at strong safety. He posted a season high 10 tackles against Alabama. Making the switch from nickel in his first two seasons to a full-time safety this year, he fit in well and was above average on the back end.
As a unit, the defense played extremely well and headlined a season Gamecock fans hope to be a turning point of the program. This 2024 class has a good chance at having the most draft picks from South Carolina in over a decade. As the squad gears up for a 2025 season with high expectations, only time will tell if the defense can stay this strong and consistent.
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