Clayton White excited about revamped group of linebackers
When Clayton White first took over at South Carolina, he inherited a linebacker room with some pieces struggling for consistency.
It was going to be up to him and the rest of the staff to not only coach up the guys in that room but inject it with the talent to compete at an SEC level.
Entering year three, and after a few key recruiting wins, White is pleased with the progress the Gamecocks have made in that department.
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“When I first got here we were starting to figure out linebacker…It was like, ‘Who’s going to be at linebacker?’ Now to sit here today we have Stone, Pup, Debo, Bam. First of all, those are some great linebacker names. And (we have) Kaba,” White told GamecockCentral.
“The guys we have now are downhill, plug gaps, shoot gaps. Not great in coverage yet but they’re tacklers and diagnose guys. I call them GPS linebackers. I like those guys. It’s different. I’m excited.”
The Gamecocks used Brad Johnson and Sherrod Greene heavily the last two seasons, two veteran backers now out of eligibility.
Johnson, White said, was a “survey, find it then go tackle” guy while Greene was a “run-and-hit guy.” Both served their purpose as starters while White started to restock his room.
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First was adding Debo Williams out of the portal and JUCO prospect Bam Scott before the 2021 season then four-star Stone Blanton out of Mississippi.
Both Williams and Blanton were thrown into the fire last season, gaining experience White hopes will help them heading into 2023.
South Carolina lists Williams at 6-foot-1, 232 pounds heading into the season while Blanton is 6-foot-2, 224 pounds. That’s 11 pounds lighter than Blanton’s listed weight last season.
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“It’s night and day on everything they’re doing in football. The most important thing is they’re trying to take hold of the defense, take charge of the football team. That’s a work in progress, but watching those guys work every day in how they’re changing their bodies and mindset,” White said.
“Debo is always ready. Stone is a guy who has changed some things with how he wants to move around and play and look and feel with his emotions.”
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The Gamecocks also work in Mo Kaba coming off an ACL injury. South Carolina will likely limit him to start preseason camp but White said once he’s ready to go–mentally and physically–Kaba will play a good amount.
“Mo is going to have a role. Most importantly, it’s that I don’t want to be part of a rush back from a second ACL (injury),” White said. “I want him to be mentally ready. Whenever his time is correct, he’s going to play early. He’ll play early in camp. But we’re trying to make sure we’re doing the right thing for him too.”
White is also excited for Pup Howard, the four-star linebacker the Gamecocks landed over every other school in the country.
Howard–at 6-foot-4, 241 pounds–looks the part of an SEC linebacker. Now is just about getting him up to speed on college football.
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“Pup is a grown man who’s still 18. He’ll still crack corny jokes but he’s still a dog on the field,” White said. “He’s going to play a lot of football for us and I can’t wait.”
