Monkell Goodwine has high praise for South Carolina, Travian Robertson
With South Carolina defensive linemen Tonka Hemingway, Boogie Huntley, and T.J. Sanders — all essentially co-starters last season — returning for another season in Columbia, it might have been easy for the trio to look a little side-eyed when the Gamecocks added not just one but two additional upperclassman defensive linemen from the transfer portal this offseason.
But rather than worry about the increased competition, that group has instead applauded the increased depth provided by transfers Monkell Goodwine and Deandre Jules, welcoming the newcomers into their d-line fraternity.
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Goodwine, the featured guest on The Garnet Trust Hour on 107.5 The Game last week, says that his new teammates have helped him make a smooth transition to his new school.
“It’s a big impact, a huge impact. Them guys being there, man, it makes everything easy,” Goodwine said. “Because, you know, if they wasn’t there, if me and Jules came in, it probably would have been a little mess. But Boogie, Tonka, TJ, all them guys, man, they work their butts off. They deserve every single accolade that they get. But they are top tier. They are some of the most top tier D-linemen I’ve met. And they handle their business. They don’t get in trouble. They do everything right. Like, they’re good people, they’re great people.”
The 6-foot-4, 301-pound Goodwine has spent the last three seasons at Alabama in a reserve role. A former four-star and Top 100 prospect, Goodwine is originally from Upper Marlboro, Md. where he graduated from Rock Creek Christian.
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Goodwine entered the portal in December and chose South Carolina, where he has earned a fresh start and had a successful spring, capped off with a big performance from the entire defensive line in the spring game.
“The journey’s been good,” Goodwine said. “I’ve been loving it so far. South Carolina’s been treating me with love. You know, just fans, the coaches, the players overall. You know, my family’s cool with it. I just found out I have family down here, too. The first day I moved down here, my dad’s side. So, I met up with them, seen them for the first time in my life. And overall, South Carolina’s good. I’ve been loving it. And it’s closer to Maryland where I’m from. So, I’ve been having the time of my life down here.”
That’s been aided by the job defensive line coach Travian Robertson has done in developing him.
“Coach T-Rob, the position coach for the D-line,” Goodwine said. “Man, greatest coach I’ve ever been with in my college career. … me ending up with Coach T-Rob. it’s been great.”
