Jatius Geer's offseason improvement leads to promotion on depth chart
Every offseason, the transfer portal brings to South Carolina a new bundle of talent, creating a fervor of good vibes and expectations soaring through the roof. Once the first kickoff of the year is in the air, however, a name will sometimes slip under the minds of the fanbase, whether it’s because of injury, lack of playing time or getting overshadowed by others on the roster.
Especially once the next year’s crop of transfers and freshmen get to campus, it’s easy for a one-time transfer to get pushed to the back of fans’ minds in favor of a new transfer or five-star freshman. But message boards and Twitter posts don’t determine players’ order on the depth chart.
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When the week one depth chart was released, one name seemed to surprise. Anderson, South Carolina native Jatius Geer, who transferred in from Syracuse prior to the 2023 season, was listed atop the EDGE position. He shares an “or” designation with Bryan Thomas Jr., who also returns after playing a decent amount last season for the Gamecocks.
Geer didn’t have the most productive season in 2023, recording just ten tackles and one tackle for loss in nine games played. But he stuck out in the offseason, improving his game and working to cement himself in an important role.
“He was able to be available for us most of the training camp… His attention to detail and his ability to take the meeting room to the field,” Clayton White said. “You saw the depth chart, his name was at the top of it, in the ‘or.’”
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Facing off against an Old Dominion offensive line that gave up 4.4 sacks per game last season, the most of all Division I teams besides Deion Sanders’s Colorado Buffaloes, there should be ample opportunities for Geer and the rest of the line to create havoc.
Though Geer hasn’t recorded a sack in his tenure as a South Carolina Gamecock, opportunity awaits. Once the time comes that an opposing quarterback hits the ground after a hit from Geer, it will be because of a supreme work ethic, something that his fellow linemen have noticed.
“He makes plays… He has a long build, he’s quick, he’s twitchy, and so just seeing him out there making plays, you know it’s great to see because this isn’t his first year, you know he worked hard, real hard,” defensive tackle Alex Huntley said. “He’s getting to play, and I expect him to make those same plays on Saturday.”
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The South Carolina defensive line struggled as a whole to get to the quarterback last season, ranking in the bottom 30 of Division I defenses in terms of sacks. With players like Geer returning, there is hope that, like Geer, the defensive line will take steps and improve as a unit to put pressure on opposing offenses.
