How South Carolina's DB room has morphed into being the SEC leader in interceptions

O’Donnell Fortune saw the look in Jalen Milroe’s eyes.

With Alabama on the doorstep of the end zone, Fortune knew where the Crimson Tide starting quarterback was going with the football. His eyes locked onto Milroe knowing he could make a big play right here.

“He was staring. He was staring the whole time,” Fortune said. “I know I had the man on the flat. … I knew he wasn’t going to throw it cause he didn’t look my way.”

Fortune started out covering tight end Josh Cuevas on the flat. Once he saw Milroe was zoning in on Germie Bernard running a corner route, he sprinted that way and arrived just in time to intercept the pass in the end zone.

“I had seen the way he dropped back and threw it,” the redshirt senior defensive back said. “It’s kind of like a route concept. So, I just pick the ball and make the big plays.”

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In fact, it’s the second time this season Fortune has made a play like the one he made on Saturday. He made the same exact read on the same route against Old Dominion back in Week 1 with the same exact result.

Since the start of the spring, it’s been known Fortune would be the head honcho in the defensive backs room. His play this season has been good enough to where he can match up against nearly any receiver he faces. But he’s also had tremendous help around him in that room with the emergence of other players.

Through six games, South Carolina’s defense leads the SEC with eight interceptions, all of which have come from the secondary. Jalon Kilgore leads the team with three, Fortune and Nick Emmanwori both have two, and DQ Smith has one.

Even younger guys like Judge Collier and Vicari Swain have stepped up this year and played opposite of Fortune at defensive back. Collier specifically has been sharp these last few games as he notably broke up three passes in his matchup against Ole Miss receiver Juice Wells.

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“Proud of how Judge is playing. He had a great game against Ole Miss. He was all over the field making tackles. I know he wants to get his pick,” defensive coordinator Clayton White said.

“I think our guys are humble dudes. They understand that the life in this league is, I mean, it’s up and down. Things are good, things are bad. They understand that. So that’s our job as coaches to keep them grounded and keep them in the right spot.”

And it all goes back to the one who’s been able to get the most out of the players. White is at the forefront of everything that comes with the defense, but he gave a lot of credit to defensive backs coach Torrian Gray, calling him “the most prepared DB coach.”

“Coach Gray’s not letting anything slide. They’re not walking around hat on backwards and hoodies and going crazy and having a good ole time,” White said. “They’re still locked in and disciplined. We’re not letting up on those guys.”

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As South Carolina enters a new week, the challenges are only going to get tougher. It’s been a constant grind of facing some of the best receivers in the country on a weekly basis. The defense managed to hold Alabama’s best wideout Ryan Williams to just four catches for 32 yards after he had scored in all five previous games this season.

Oklahoma might not have a 17-year-old star in the making or any of the big names, but it’s still an SEC offense with SEC-type players. Regardless of who they face, the defensive backs keep things all the same in their preparation.

“I mean, last year we’d go against (Xavier Legette), them big-time receivers,” Fortune said. “It’s not really like different from us, man. But we just approach the game the same way. Any opponent, any receiver, just approach the same way.”

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