South Carolina players, coaches offer thoughts on nickname for team's defense

Whenever a professional or college football team’s defense performs at a high level, a nickname is soon to follow. Take the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Minnesota Vikings as examples. During the 1970s, both team’s defenses were at the peaks of their powers and earned monikers like the “Steel Curtain” and the “Purple People Eaters,” respectively.

The South Carolina football team, obviously, will not be competing for Super Bowls, something both the Steelers and Vikings did back in the day. But the Gamecocks’ defense has had a strong start to the 2024 season, just like those squads did decades ago.

That beckons the question: Should South Carolina’s defense be given a nickname?

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For defensive coordinator Clayton White, a new nickname for the Gamecocks is not necessary. He admitted he is “not into that extra stuff” and that he would not have time to come up with a nickname.

“I think I got a couple little things about that from somebody hitting me up … but I’m good,” White said. “You guys can have your own nickname, but we’re the Gamecock defense. That’s our nickname – the Gamecocks.”

Even if establishing a nickname isn’t the South Carolina defense’s top priority, it has shown throughout the season that it is deserving of the praise that comes with one.

The Gamecocks rank among the country’s best in multiple statistics. South Carolina tied for third amongst all NCAA Division I FBS programs in sacks (28), trailing behind only Ole Miss in the SEC. The Gamecocks are also fourth in the SEC and tied for seventh in the nation in tackles for loss per game (8.1).

South Carolina’s pass rush is not the only area of the team’s defense that is performing well, though. The Gamecocks’ secondary has been a turnover machine in 2024, intercepting 10 passes through seven games. That puts South Carolina tied for 17th in the nation and fourth in the SEC in that category.

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The team’s strong overall displays on defense, which have been shown in dominant wins over the likes of Kentucky and Oklahoma, come on the back of key players’ individual efforts.

Kyle Kennard has made a name for himself as one of the top edge rushers in the country, as he is currently fifth in the country in sacks (8.5) and has additionally logged 12.5 tackles for loss, four quarterback hits and two forced fumbles. Dylan Stewart, a true freshman lining up opposite to Kennard, could be held in that regard during future seasons.

In Nick Emmanwori and T.J. Sanders, the Gamecocks possess two more players who could be high-round NFL Draft selections.

This success is part of the reason why Alex Huntley is convinced the team should create a nickname, given that South Carolina’s defense currently does not have one.

“I can’t say that we have a specific nickname,” Huntley said. “We might have to figure something out coming up here these next couple weeks.”

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Debo Williams expressed a similar sentiment about the Gamecocks’ development of a special moniker.

“(We) definitely need a nickname,” Williams said. “We’re going to come up with one. It’s got to go crazy, for sure.”

One specific nickname that has been thrown around is the “Carolina Reapers.” It is not only a reference to the Grim Reaper, a symbolic representation of death, but also the Carolina Reaper chili pepper, which is one of the hottest peppers in the world.

Discussion about this specific nickname comes at an opportune time around Halloween, Shane Beamer said. But as things stand, Beamer is not at all engrossed in christening South Carolina’s defense with this new name. Rather, he just wants it to continue competing at the same level it has all season.

“I like it as long as they keep playing well. That’s what we need to be focused on,” Beamer said. “As long as we keep playing well, people can call them whatever they want.”

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