Shane Beamer talks EDGE depth, other standout freshmen
As injuries continue to pile up for South Carolina, the EDGE spot is one of the ones hitting the Gamecocks hardest.
Terrell Dawkins is out for roughly 4-6 weeks and because of it freshman Bryan Thomas is having to fill that rotational void up front.
“He’s a little undersized but plays with a high motor. You look at him and he doesn’t have the height or overall size the other guys do. He’s got to play with great leverage and great pad level,” Shane Beamer said.
“He’s got great twitch and able to rush the passer. (Thomas has) got to be that guy for us. We have to continue to create that depth and be creative with what we do defensively and who’s doing what.”
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The Gamecocks lost starter Jordan Strachan in the second game and Dawkins this week, leaving a thin group entering the season even thinner.
Tonka Hemingway played some end over the course of the last few weeks, but Thomas is going to see his role increase as well.
Thomas logged 28 snaps in a 56-20 win over Charlotte. He ultimately ended up as the fifth highest-graded Gamecocks defender by PFF.
He generated three pressures and two quarterback hits in 17 pass rush snaps, which is something South Carolina is going to continue to ask him to do.
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“For Bryan to get in there for his first game action, he got some pressures on the quarterback and hits on the quarterback,” Beamer said. “One thing about Bryan is he’s always going to play hard. He’s just got to get a little bit better and better each week.”
Beamer said he was also impressed with freshman defensive back Kajuan Banks.
The secondary is a little banged up as well. Banks logged 15 snaps at cornerback Saturday late in the game.
He finished with a 60.1 overall grade. He gave up receptions on both targets for 34 yards but did have a tackle.
“Kajuan Banks is a guy who, when we went back and looked at it, felt like he’s a guy who needs to continue to get more and more playing time,” Beamer said. “The moment is not too big for him. He’s doing some good things on special teams. He made a nice play on the sideline when we had the offside penalty.”
Beamer said he also liked what he saw from freshman offensive tackle Cason Henry.
Because of some injuries up front, Henry was running with the second-team offense late in the game. He played 11 snaps and ended with a 59.5 overall grade but a 76.7 pass block grade.
He didn’t allow a pressure playing right tackle.
“The other one who got in there and have high hopes for his Cason Henry,” Beamer said. “He came in there last night and played some offensive tackle as a true freshmen. He was raw like you’d expect a true freshman to be but we’re excited about his potential and what he can bring to the table as he continues to develop.”
