Mo Kaba is 'just having fun' in starting role for South Carolina
For two years, South Carolina linebacker Mo Kaba bided his time.
Paying his dues behind other entrenched players while rehabbing a torn ACL, Kaba was on campus for two years before earning his first career start.
That came Saturday night in a 35-14 win over Georgia State, his first big chance to show people outside of the building what he can do.
“He’s really stepped up and he’s a big player for us on defense and a leader for us in the linebacker room,” Brad Johnson said. “He’s proved me right with everything I thought he’d be.”
In 53 snaps Saturday, Kaba had four tackles—second most on the team—and commanded a defense that for the most part played really well.
It was a nice culminating moment for a player who waited long enough to be in that position for the Gamecocks.
“I’m blessed to be in this position for one,” he said. “Like I said I’m just having fun out there, man.”
Kaba finished fourth on the team with a 72.8 Pro Football Focus grade. That was behind just Debo Williams, Nick Emmanwori and Gilber Edmond.
PFF also credited him with four stops in the run game. Georgia State didn’t target Kaba once in 15 coverage snaps.
“Mo Kaba,” Johnson said, “he’s a dog and he’s really come into his leadership role on this team.”
Kaba has been with the program since 2020, coming in after tearing his ACL his high school senior season.
Before his first start, Kaba played in 22 games while also earning Most Improved defensive player honors this spring.
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Kaba also continues to bring energy around him that makes people want to follow him. His head coach Shane Beamer noted that he’s a guy that’s fun to be around.
“The thing I’ve seen with Mo is just his maturity and the way that it’s grown in just a year and a half,” Beamer said.
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With his development and maturation, Kaba is also turning into one of the Gamecocks’ leaders. He’s what Beamer calls an old soul, joking Kaba sticks by defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Clayton White in meetings.
It’s not out of the realm of possibility to see Kaba and the rest of the linebackers stopping off for a cup of coffee before clocking in for team meetings.
“He really works and he really studies. I’ll be in those linebacker meetings with coach White and he’s right there with coach White in the front row,” Beamer said. “And it’s very locked into what he’s doing.”
Leading by example seems to be Kaba’s specialty. He is also a product of the young Gamecock program’s culture.
“He’s just one of those guys that when other people hear him speak, they listen,” Johnson said. “Whenever people see him do things, they want to follow him. He’s just a natural leader.”
South Carolina travels to Fayetteville to take on No. 16 Arkansas at noon ET.
