Debo Williams, Stone Blanton sliding into bigger roles now
South Carolina’s young linebacker corps of Debo Williams and Stone Blanton are getting their chances to make a difference defensively in the wake of recent injuries.
The Gamecocks lost two valuable pieces against Arkansas in Mo Kaba and Jordan Strachan. Seniors Sherrod Greene and Brad Johnson now step into the starting role for Clayton White’s defense.
Depth is a luxury in the SEC. Williams and Blanton will play bigger roles because of the injuries to the defense.
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It is a next-man-up mentality for the defense ahead of the biggest game of the season.
“Well, it’s definitely developed. We know we’re in a league that at any time I mean you could be on your third guy playing or your fourth guy playing, White said. “So we always trying to develop our young guys in our program through our strength program through the way we practice.”
Williams steps up behind Johnson at WIL linebacker and Blanton, a true freshman, will also see action on Saturday backing up Sherrod Greene at the middle linebacker spot.
After transferring to South Carolina from Delaware in 2021, Williams played in all 13 games last year. He arrived and made an instant impact for Pete Lembo on special teams.
He did not see much action at linebacker in 2021. But he still recorded 6 tackles and one pass breakup but will have a bigger role in his second season with the Gamecocks.
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In 2022 Williams has also already made an impact on the Gamecock defense. He tallied five tackles in the win against Georgia State, and four against Arkansas.
As unfortunate as the injuries are, it also provides a chance for underclassmen to gain valuable reps.
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Williams and Blanton both have impressed White in practice enough to get onto the depth chart ahead of Georgia.
“So, for the most part, those guys are getting more reps at practice now so you get to see more,” White said. “It’s awesome to watch them run around.”
South Carolina hosts the No.1 Georgia Bulldogs at Williams Brice Stadium on Saturday while kickoff is scheduled for noon ET.
