Gilber Edmond details personal journey back to South Carolina football program

Gilber Edmond‘s decision to return to South Carolina was a personal one.

Edmond originally committed to the Gamecocks as a member of the class of 2020. The edge rusher played sparingly during his first two seasons with the program, accumulating just five total tackles across nine games.

But he emerged as a key cog in South Carolina’s defense during the 2022 season. Edmond appeared in 12 games that season, starting in 10 of them. He logged 39 tackles, nine tackles for loss and two sacks for a team that finished the campaign with eight wins.

Rather than further cementing a role in the starting lineup for the following season, though, Edmond entered the transfer portal. He then joined a Florida State squad that, despite going undefeated, did not make the College Football Playoff. In his lone season with the Seminoles, Edmond totaled 23 tackles, one forced fumble and one sack.

When he entered the transfer portal again, his sights were set on South Carolina. Ahead of his final college football season, Edmond is looking to put his best foot forward and play football at a place that holds personal significance to him.

“(When) I came out of high school, they were one of the only schools that gave me an opportunity to come here and play and stuff like that… This is where I felt like I’ve grew into the man that I am. I came here as a kid, been through so many things. And this is where I’ve grown and matured and stuff like that,” Edmond told GamecockCentral. “This became my home — my home away from home.”

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Part of re-integrating himself with Gamecock football was repairing relationships that were strained by his departure. Shane Beamer spoke on the matter during an offseason media availability in January.

“Was I ticked off when he left? Yes. Was I disappointed when he left? Yes. Was I happy? Not at all. But he handled it the right way and I understood the reasons why,” Beamer said. “I tried to paint as ugly of a picture as I could. There’s going to be guys in that locker room that are mad that you left and it’s going to take some time to rebuild that trust with them. He was adamant about wanting to.”

That picture was ultimately not as ugly as it was originally made out to be. Edmond said his South Carolina teammates were receptive to his return and made his transition more seamless.

“Thankfully, those guys made the process so much easier because they opened me with welcoming arms. They welcomed me back,” Edmond said. “Some people might hold something against it internally, but for the most part, they opened me back with open arms. And it just made it that much more easier for me to connect with them, and rebuild the connections, build connections with new guys and stuff like that. It was more on them, how open they were with me.”

The 2024 Gamecock Football Media Guide mentions that Edmond “has a new maturity about him since his return.” He said he has become more mature with increased college football experience.

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“I think that just comes with growing,” Edmond said. “The older I got over the years, the more you’re around, the more you’re learning, the better you carry yourself, the better aspect you have on life — I’m for sure more mature, and all the better for me.”

One way Edmonds said he has showcased that maturity is by serving as a leader for his younger teammates.

“I kind of look at it like how, if I was in their shoes, what would I have wanted? Or what did the older guys teach me when I first got here?” Edmond said. “I see it as like a big brother role… I want to like, push that down onto the younger guys (and) motivate them to be the best version of themselves, hold themselves accountable, do everything that the coaches ask them to.”

Edmonds added that he is also looking forward to being the best person and player he can be throughout the 2024 season, taking in every moment in the process.

“It’s going to be amazing. It’s going to be a full-circle moment, and I’m excited,” Edmond said. “Knowing that this is a place where I get to finish where I started at, and doing it with the right people — doing it with guys I built relationships with for years and stuff like that — it just makes it that more fun.”

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