South Carolina defensive transfers will fill void left by Foster, Enagbare
If South Carolina’s two most impactful defensive players are at Williams-Brice next season, it’ll be as spectators.
Neither JJ Enagbare nor Jaylan Foster will be on the roster in 2022, which leaves big shoes to fill defensively.
Knowing that, South Carolina was in the market for a few impact portal players. They found those in Devonni Reed and Terrell Dawkins.
“I think Devonni for sure with just the leadership back there,” Shane Beamer said. “Everybody I talked to in this building talks about what a pro he is and how awesome he is and the way he handles his business in the weight room, in nutrition.”
Reed, who played four seasons at Central Michigan, is expected to play safety and compete for a starting spot.
In four years he rattled off 281 career tackles, 7.5 for loss, with two interceptions and a touchdown but he’s coming off a year where he had 72 tackles and two interceptions with a career-best six passes defended.
“He’s just a natural leader who has that it factor about him,” Beamer said. “I’m really fired up about him. Everybody raves about him that’s around him already.”
Hampered by injuries, Dawkins logged nine pressures with NC State which was down from his 17 pressures in 2020 but the Gamecocks are hoping he can replicate what he did in 2020.
Top 10
- 1
Ryan Day
Buyout revealed from new contract
- 2
UNC president
Belichick hire fall out
- 3
'I'm 1-0 vs. PETA'
La. Gov. defends LSU live tiger
- 4
2025 CFB odds
Key game point spreads
- 5
Marshall Faulk
Deion Sanders adds HOFer to staff
Get the On3 Top 10 to your inbox every morning
By clicking "Subscribe to Newsletter", I agree to On3's Privacy Notice, Terms, and use of my personal information described therein.
“He had a fantastic freshman season in Raleigh and we were able to get down here. For what we do defensively, schematically it’s a little bit different than what NC State was doing,” Beamer said. “Not to speak for him but he felt like the fit for what we do here fits his game a little better.”
Dawkins’s starting spot isn’t guaranteed, but the pass rusher will almost certainly fit into the rotation somewhere.
The Gamecocks need him to losing Enagbare and Aaron Sterling, who were the two best pass rushers on the team. They combined for 62 pressures and 36 quarterback hurries.
“With us losing JJ and Aaron Sterling that comes in and gives us a unique ability to rush the passer,” Beamer said. “He brings some athleticism to that edge position as well.”
Both Reed and Dawkins are on campus and will go through spring practice with the team which begins March 15.
Welcome to Gamecock Central on On3! Subscribe now and get your first year for $1!
