Peyton Williams embodies 'next man up' mindset after South Carolina teammate suffers injury
South Carolina has remained relatively free from injuries during the 2024 campaign. Only one player projected to be a starter during the preseason – Jakai Moore – has missed extended time.
But in Saturday’s 28-7 win over Vanderbilt, the Gamecocks encountered injury scares to some key playmakers. One of these injuries – to starting defensive back DQ Smith – happened before the game’s first snap.
“We come off the field from pre-game warmups, and Clint (Haggard), the trainer, tells me that DQ’s out. I’m like, ‘DQ’s out? How’s DQ out?'” Shane Beamer said. “He obviously aggravated something in pregame warmups and wasn’t able to go, which is disappointing.”
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The performance of the player ushered into the game as a result of Smith’s injury was far from it. Peyton Williams, a redshirt sophomore defensive back, demonstrated the depth present on the Gamecocks’ defense and had a career game against the Commodores.
“We said ‘next man up,’ so he was prepared. We work our tails off at practice. Whether you’re second-string, third-string, you have to be ready. It’s what we do,” Debo Williams said. “Everybody gets reps, and he was ready to play. I’m proud of him.”
Heading into Saturday’s game, Williams had appeared in each of South Carolina’s previous eight games this year. Before 2024, he participated in just three contests, all of which took place during the 2022 season. Williams spent much of the 2023 campaign on the Gamecocks’ scout team after suffering an ankle injury during spring practices.
In most of these games, he saw limited action on the gridiron. But Smith’s injury allowed Williams to see the field for a much longer period of time, and he would take advantage of it.
Williams ended the night with seven total tackles, which was tied for second-most on the team. Nick Emmanwori led South Carolina’s defense with eight tackles, while both Bam Martin-Scott and Demetrius Knight also finished with seven.
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Williams also came up with two pass breakups, one of which came at a pivotal moment during the third quarter.
At this point in the contest, the Gamecocks owned a 21-7 lead. Vanderbilt, which was marching down the field in an attempt to make it a one-score game, faced 4th and 8 at South Carolina’s 36-yard line. The Commodores elected to go for it on this play. Diego Pavia reared back to throw a pass to Eli Stowers, Vanderbilt’s leading pass-catcher this year. But Williams got his hand on the ball before Stowers could, which led to it falling incomplete.
“Peyton Williams came in and did his thing. DQ was down out of nowhere. (He) didn’t flinch,” Knight said. “The moment didn’t get too big for him, eye’s didn’t get too wide. (He) played his heart out, did what he was supposed to do.”
Beamer, Knight and Debo Williams all praised Williams for his adaptability and production upon entering the field. But, for Knight, Williams’ individual performance had a big-picture meaning – it showed how South Carolina has production up and down its roster, particularly on defense.
“There’s no drop off,” Knight said. “We know the guys that are – if you’re second or you’re third, nobody’s going to flinch.”
