Debo Williams' mentality leading the way on the South Carolina defense
Debo Williams has been one of the best players for South Carolina’s defense this fall. The approach he brings every day is starting to wear off on those around him. It could also be what the Gamecocks need to turn things around defensively.
Headed into the 2023 campaign, Shane Beamer and staff were looking for Williams to make big strides. In his second season, Williams has now become one of the pillars of the defense. It is in large part because of the mentality he brings to football.
“Mentality wise he’s the same way all the time, scary,” Beamer said. “He’s all business and it goes back to his first day on campus in January 2021. He didn’t have anything that day until 8 a.m. and I walked in at 5:55 a.m…He’s already in the weight room working out by himself because he has to because that’s his mentality.”
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PFF has been grading Williams better in his last two games after struggling in the middle of the season. He finished with an 84.7 and an 84.1 tackling grade against Missouri and Texas A&M.
The highlight of those two games is Williams’ zero percent missed tackle percentage.
“It’s like a David Goggins mentality, ‘Be uncommon amongst uncommon people’ and ‘Get comfortable being uncomfortable.’ As far as me when stuff gets hard, that’s when I want to get better,” Williams said. “When it’s the fourth quarter and everyone’s tired, that’s when I want to come alive that’s when I want to be at my best. I kind of feed off of that when I start to see o-linemen and running backs tired, I start smiling because I know it’s my time to shine now.”
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Williams is one of three South Carolina players in the top 10 in the SEC for tackling. He leads the way for a defense that has had its fair share of injuries.
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“He’s become a really good leader as well because he practices hard, he’s focused, he’s physical, and he’s all business all the time,” Beamer said.
With so many injuries, Williams is being upon as a leader on off the field. Part of that leadership role is aiding in the development of sophomore linebacker Stone Blanton and freshman Pup Howard.
“I’ve learned a lot from Debo. I think he’s one of the best linebackers in the SEC in my opinion,” Blanton said. “He has the best mentality I’ve ever seen in a football player the way he plays is unmatchable. You can’t coach it. He plays with such an aggression that you just feed off of and you just want to do that alongside him.”
If Williams progresses throughout the rest of the year, look for him to climb onto a draft board or two.
