Bam Martin-Scott gives impressions of South Carolina defense, teammates in linebacker room
South Carolina’s defense finished the 2023 season with a lot of positive momentum. Over its last three contests, the Gamecocks held its opponents — Vanderbilt, Kentucky and Clemson — to just 12 points and 282 yards of offense per game.
Fortunately for South Carolina, most of its starters on that defense are returning to the team in the fall. Among those returning players is Bam Martin-Scott, who was especially productive over that stretch of games. The sixth-year linebacker started in all three contests, amassing 28 tackles, one sack and one pass defended.
Martin-Scott said he believes the Gamecocks’ defense can take another step this upcoming season.
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“I think the next step is just making decisions as teammates and players and not getting to focused on the moments. Winning your one-on-one battles, and just staying grounded,” Martin-Scott said in a Garnet Trust Hour interview on 107.5 The Game. “I feel like we’ve been in this defense for, what, three or four years now? We know it inside and out. I feel like, this year is going to be one of those defenses that everybody talks about the 2024 South Carolina defense.”
South Carolina’s linebacker room specifically has both retained and acquired talent this past offseason. The Gamecocks core group of players at the position features an All-American, experienced transfers and incoming freshmen looking to earn playing time and make their mark on the football program.
Martin-Scott said he has seen the linebacker room increase in athleticism since last fall. He also shared his thoughts on multiple teammates who are part of his position group:
- Debo Williams: “Debo’s like the mentality (of the linebacker room).”
- Demetrius Knight: “He’s just athletic, strong, fast — everything you want out of a linebacker.”
- Bangally Kamara: “Bangally’s a character, but he’s also a great football. He loves football. He loves to be in those kinds of environments, just talking about football and everything.”
- Mohamed Kaba: “Kaba coming back — he’s doing his thing, I’m not going to lie. Kaba’s going to shock some people this year, too.”
- Wendell Gregory: “Wendell’s a character, too. The young guys, they’re coming along well.”
- Fred Johnson: “He kind of reminds me of myself, honestly, with his style of play, how fast he is, the way he is.”
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Despite South Carolina’s similarities, in terms of personnel, at many positions, Martin-Scott said this year’s team has changed a lot from last year’s.
“First of all, we’re coming out healthy. The defense is going to be better. We’re more connected and stronger with the lift groups that we’re doing. And we’re doing more team bonding things,” Martin-Scott said. “So I just think this is going to be a different team this year.”
He added that the Gamecocks have something to prove after missing out on postseason play for the first time in Shane Beamer’s tenure as head coach.
“There’s something to prove, definitely,” Martin-Scott said. “Like how the girls (South Carolina women’s basketball team) had the revenge tour, we’re on our revenge tour.”
