Jordan Burch is determined on making an impact on Gamecocks defense
Jordan Burch had one of the more memorable moments, especially early, of South Carolina’s seven-win season last year.
In a season-opening blowout over Eastern Illinois, Burch snatched a ball out of the air and sprinted 61 yards into the end zone, blowing the roof off Williams-Brice Stadium in Shane Beamer’s first-career win.
But it’s those plays Burch is ready to extrapolate over what he hopes is a breakout season as a starter on the defensive line.
“I mean he has a lot of God-given talent, we know that,” position coach Sterling Lucas said. “You know 6-foot-5, 275 (pounds), and he can run like a deer. So yeah, he’s one of the better athletes that I’ve seen.”
After battling injuries as a freshman, Burch put together his best season in 2021. He had 26 tackles while also pressuring the quarterback 10 times.
It’s his athleticism that sets him apart from other players, and Burch is also hoping his game takes its next step under a Lucas.
Lucas comes to the college game for the first time after spending all of his career in the NFL, most recently with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Burch is already seeing results.
“Same game plan you know,” Burch said. “Coach Lucas came in from the NFL and taught us a lot of stuff that we needed working with pass rush so that’s very beneficial for us.”
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He’s playing in an EDGE group with plenty of experience alongside guys like Jordan Strachan and Terrell Dawkins.
Strachan, who started his career at Georgia State before transferring to South Carolina, is expected to start opposite Burch.
Dawkins is new to the roster, but the NC State transfer is helping out as much as he can.
“Yeah he’s a good player, back in the spring I used to ask him questions,” Burch said. “I could always learn something from different people, he would teach me a lot of stuff.”
It’ll be in part up to Burch to keep South Carolina’s pass rush defense up to snuff after losing guys like JJ Enagbare and Aaron Sterling.
“I think we picked up where they left off,” Burch said. “We’re learning a lot of new stuff too, going forward. We’ve learned a lot from Coach (Sterling) Lucas, a lot of stuff we didn’t know last year. So I think we’ve been pretty good.”
But he doesn’t feel any of that pressure. He’s just taking it day by day.
“Not getting too ahead of myself like keeping my composure,” he said. “It’s just football.”
