Shane Beamer: Jaylin Dickerson, DeVonte Holloman will be great assets at South Carolina
South Carolina’s defensive staff got bigger by two over the last few days with a few familiar faces.
The Gamecocks added two pieces to its defensive support staff in Jaylin Dickerson and DeVonte Holloman. Both will join in different capacities this season.
Dickerson comes over to the other side of the ball after spending the last few seasons as a player on the roster.
“Jaylin’s a guy who’s been around this program for a while. He played a lot of football. His body was just beat up. Certainly loves playing the game. I don’t want to speak for Jaylin but he felt his body wasn’t to the point where it wasn’t 100 percent and it would be hard for him to perform at the level he wanted to,” Shane Beamer said about Dickerson.
“He’s an asset to this program on and off the field. We talked to him about being a student assistant coach. It’s great.”
Dickerson enrolled in 2017 and ended his playing career marred with injuries after playing in just a handful of games over the last four seasons.
He moved over to the coaching role this offseason after another season-ending injury in 2021. Dickerson was at practice Tuesday morning and will be a staple around the Gamecocks’ defense this season.
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“He’ll be awesome. We’re excited he’ll be around this program still even if he’s not playing. What a great young man,” Beamer said. “He’s been in our staff meetings. Just listening to him, he came up to me a could weeks ago talking about how fortunate he is to be here and how much he’s enjoyed being around the coaches in this realm. I’m happy for him.”
For Holloman, he comes in after a nearly seven-year career as a high school coach where he won a state title at South Pointe.
The former Gamecock defensive back spent some time in the NFL, drafted in the sixth round, before getting into coaching.
He’ll serve this season as a defensive analyst.
“It’s not every day you’re able to add a former player that played in the NFL but also won a state championship as a high school coach that’s from the state of South Carolina,” I’m excited to have DeVontae here and part of the program. He’s working with the defense as an analyst and will be a great resource for our staff and team as well.”
His hiring keeps in line with Beamer’s push to involve more former players in the program.
Beamer brought Erik Kimrey on the coaching staff. Byron Jerideau, Shaq Wilson and Patrick DiMarco are all in off-field roles. Connor Shaw also spent a season under Beamer before departing this offseason.
“I’m happy to have Devonte Holloman back and around the program as well,” Beamer said. “Like I said from the day I got here I want to get our former players back involved more. I was glad the timing worked out to get Devonte here.”
