Torrian Gray, Clayton White encouraged by Gamecocks' young DBs
South Carolina knew this day was going to come, and the Gamecocks staff prepared for it.
Knowing the high likelihood the defense would have to replace not one but two NFL-caliber cornerbacks after the 2022 season, Torrian Gray and Clayton White tried to restock that room with talent.
The good news is, there is a core group of blue-chip talent on the field. The bad news is it’s inexperienced. Which is what makes this training camp so vital to the back end.
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“I like our talent. We just have no experience. We have guys that are long, that can run and that can make plays,” Gray said. “Now we have to do a great job this training camp of learning our position, learning our techniques. We’re going to need those guys to play.”
South Carolina signed four-stars Keenan Nelson Jr., Nick Emmanwori and Emory Floyd in the previous class while inking Peyton Williams and DQ Smith.
This year the Gamecocks brought in blue-chippers Vicari Swain and Jalon Kilgore while Zahbari Sandy and Judge Collier round out the class.
Swain and Kilgore are both inside the top 300 nationally in the On3 Industry rankings. On3 has Swain as the No. 51 player in the class and Kilgore at No. 168 overall.
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“Kilgore, man, he’s extremely talented. He’s got physicality with him. He’s not afraid to tackle. I love that about him. He showed he can make plays and has ball skills. Same with Vicari,” Gray said. “it’s just about how quickly we can get the learning progression.”
Kilgore is going to work primarily at safety while Swain will compete for the Gamecocks’ No. 3 cornerback spot along with Collier, Sandy and Floyd.
Defensive coordinator Clayton White has also seen a positive tick-up for all of those defensive backs in the 2022 class heading into preseason camp.
Those guys flashed at times over the course of their freshmen seasons with Nelson Jr. starting and playing well at times during the Gator Bowl.
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“I think being around guys like Nick and DQ helped those guys. Nick and DQ are the most flexible DBs we have and know the whole defense. That pushes the buttons for those other guys,” White said. “Those guys made plays, they’re going to help us.”
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South Carolina also has a track record under Gray of getting true freshmen and first-year guys in the program to play and play well.
Carlins Platel and David Spaulding–both transfers–flashed in 2021 along with Marcellas Dial. Emmanwori and Smith both turned into All-Freshman players last season.
The Gamecocks are going to need the same this season. They will also have the next month to figure it out.
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“It helps if the player is at a certain maturity level physically and mentally. Nick and DQ, there aren’t a lot of guys who come along that are physically and mentally able to do the things those guys were able to do,” Gray said.
“We have talented guys. But are they going to be physically (ready) and mature to learn the things we need them to learn and do the things we need them to do from a technique and fundamental standpoint to help us.”
