Two Gamecock coaches, former players named to On3's 2022 rising-star assistants
Using votes and feedback from over 100 individuals in the coaching world, a list has been compliled of 65 assistant coaches to keep an eye on this season and beyond.
Making the list are South Carolina football coaches Sterling Lucas and Justin Stepp. Former Gamecock defensive backs Chris Hampton and Addison Williams are also listed.
Justin Stepp
Stepp is heading in to his second season as the wide receivers coach for South Carolina. A Columbia native, Stepp returned to his hometown after serving as the receivers coach at Arkansas from 2018 to 2020. Prior to his time in Fayetteville, Stepp also spent time coaching at SMU and Appalachian State. Stepp was hired in January of 2021 during a time of mass hiring by Shane Beamer in attempt to rebuild heading in to his first season. In Stepp’s debut season, the Gamecock wide receivers were led by an explosive season by Josh Vann. After never cracking over 175 yards in his first three seasons in Columbia, Vann finished the 2021 season with 679 receiving yards and five touchdowns. On the recruiting front, Stepp has successfully brought in prospects from the transfer portal such as Ahmarean Brown, Corey Rucker, and FCS standout Antwane Wells.
Sterling Lucas
Lucas is heading in to his first season as the Gamecocks‘ defensive ends/outside linebackers coach. He replaces Mike Peterson who left to take a similar position at the University of Florida. Also a South Carolina native, Lucas comes to Columbia after six seasons coaching in the NFL. He spent this past season with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Prior to, he served as a defensive assistant for the Baltimore Ravens from 2016 to 2020. During his time in Baltimore, the Ravens’ defense ranked among the top seven in the NFL for four his five seasons with the team. Including a number one ranking in 2018. Lucas began his college coaching career as a graduate assistant at his alma mater, NC State. He played linebacker for the Wolfpack from 2008 to 2012.
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Chris Hampton
The former South Carolina football safety is going in to his second season as Tulane’s defensive coordinator. Hampton served their defensive backs coach from 2016 to 2019. During this time, Tulane had a cornerback drafted three years in a row (2018-2020). Hampton spent the 2020 season at Duke before retuning to Tulane to take his current position. In his time as a Gamecock, the Memphis native was a two year starter. He ended his career with 31 tackles, three fumbles, and one interception. He also helped the Gamecocks to a win over ranked Clemson in 2006.
Addison Williams
The former South Carolina cornerback is going into his second season as Central Florida’s defensive backs coach after a year as Coastal Carolina’s safeties coach. Williams helped UCF improve from allowing the third-most touchdown passes nationally in 2020 (26 in 10 games) to allowing the seventh-fewest last season (12 in 13 games), according to the bio on Zenitz’s list. Williams played under Steve Spurrier in Columbia and got his coaching start as a student assistant with the Gamecocks in 2010.
