Tonka Hemingway updates rehab, what he saw in spring ball
South Carolina went through spring practice without one of its key cogs up front on the defensive line in Tonka Hemingway.
Tonka Hemingway missed all 15 practices coming off an offseason surgery but hopes to be back in the fold as the Gamecocks reconvene later this month to begin summer workouts.
“It’s going really well,” Hemingway told GamecockCentral at the Gamecock Gala. “Hoping to get back soon and working hard to get back by the summer.”
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Missing him wasn’t great for the Gamecocks in the spring. But the priority is obviously to get him back and fully healthy for the summer and training camp in August.
Hemingway was coming off a great season in 2022 where he totaled career-highs in tackles (33), tackles for loss (8) and sacks (4). He also notched 24 quarterback pressures and 16 hurries.
But on the shelf for the first time ever during spring practice, he was relegated to serving almost as a secondary coach.
“It was really weird,” Hemingway said. “I had to learn some new things. And help the young guys teaching them tips and tricks that I learned here from other people.”
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With him out, though, it gave the Gamecocks a ton of time to rep some of the younger players in the program.
South Carolina got to see what it had in a core group of young players like Felix Hixon and Jamaal Whyce. It also allowed other, more entrenched guys like TJ Sanders and Boogie Huntley a chance to continue to develop too.
“I feel like they’ve all made really good steps,” he said.
South Carolina also had two newcomers into the program this spring in four-star freshman Xzavier McLeod and JUCO lineman Elijah Davis.
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Davis, like Hemingway, can bounce from the interior defensive line to the edge if need be. Both give the Gamecocks some versatility up front.
“It’s been good to have somebody to always compete with and say, ‘I can do that too!’” Hemingway said. “It’s good.”
Hemingway should be full go by the time South Carolina starts training camp in early August. And the Gamecocks expect him to be a stalwart up front.
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South Carolina has to find a way to fill the void left by Zacch Pickens. Hemingway is the prime candidate.
He will have a new position coach, though, with Jimmy Lindsey off to LSU for the same position. The Gamecocks have officially hired Travian Robertson.
South Carolina will officially announce former Gamecocks defensive lineman and Tulane defensive line coach in a press conference.
