South Carolina defensive coordinator Clayton White previewed the 2025 season with a media session, stressing that the goals remain the same: push further than last year with a defense built on a mix of young talent and seasoned players. He emphasized that competition remains open at several spots, but overall the unit is “set and excited” as the first game nears.
Key takeaways from White’s remarks
– Readiness for opening game: White said the defense is largely set for game one, though competition will continue right up to kickoff. Players have dealt with occasional injuries but the team is “all set and excited.”
– Fred Johnson stepping up: Johnson is becoming more vocal and engaged, with White noting he’s coming out of his shell. The linebacker is displaying consistency in daily work and has the potential to play a big role if he continues to grow.
– Interior defensive line: With turnover from last year’s group, several veterans have stepped forward. Monkell Goodwine and Gabe Brownlow-Dindy have stood out for their day-to-day consistency and power. White highlighted Brownlow-Dindy’s strength and his ability to translate that energy from the weight room to the field, crediting coach mentorship and the entire defensive unit for helping him apply it in practice. Nick Barrett also continues to contribute as a playmaker.
– Edge room and injuries: The edge position has faced some freak injuries, which have limited depth. White stressed that while depth is hurt in practice, there are still capable players like Dylan Stewart and BT in the fold, and the defense must rely on contributions from defensive tackles, linebackers, and DBs to keep pressure on quarterbacks.
– Safety competition: The battle at safety involves Peyton Williams and David Bucey, each bringing different strengths. White said the group is competing well and sharing time, with no personal battles and all players earning opportunities to showcase their skills.
– Biggest differences heading into 2025: White believes the defense appears bigger and stronger, with more mass in the front and a continued emphasis on speed and versatility. The unit aims to be opportunistic, focusing on creating turnovers and getting the ball back to the offense, while keeping points off the board.
– Linebacker room roles: Justin Okoronkwo and Shawn Murphy bring maturity and football IQ to the linebacker corps. White praised their playmaking ability, leadership, and teamwork, noting they should help energize the defense.
– Freshman linebackers and development: Jaquavious Dodd and Anthony Addison are progressing, though White warned they still have a long way to go. Injuries in the edge room speed up their development, but both are expected to gain meaningful reps.
– Two scrimmages performance: White praised the defense for energy and some positive takeaways, including turnovers, but he emphasized the need to refine operation—specifically, the pace of subbing groups, play-entry, and tackling angles. Conditioning remains important, as practice cannot perfectly replicate game-day demands.
– Gerald Kilgore’s interception: Kilgore’s growth stands out; White noted Kilgore’s increasing football IQ and his transition from day-to-day questions to more advanced, game-like inquiries. Kilgore’s athleticism and projectable upside were highlighted as assets.
– Brandon Cisse and versatility: Brandon Cisse’s speed, burst, and change of direction give the defense valuable flexibility. White compared his impact to earlier standout players and noted Cisse’s ability to play multiple roles, including corner, nickel, and inside/outside coverage. Kilgore can also slide off the field to allow Cisse to move to nickel when needed.
– DQ Smith taking a leadership role: DQ Smith has emerged as the vocal leader of the safety group, building on leadership traits that date back to his high school quarterback days. He’s become the “voice and muscle” in the back end, with peers looking to him for calls and checks.
– freshmen linebackers’ potential: White reiterated that while the freshmen are far from flawless, they’re fun to coach and have potential. They’re not yet at a “teacher’s pet” level but are improving steadily as they learn a large-volume playbook.
– Safety and corner depth: Williams brings veteran presence, while Cisse’s versatility enhances the team’s ability to adapt to matchups and injuries. The defense benefits from this multi-positional flexibility, especially in late-game situations and against dynamic offenses.
– Overall outlook for the unit: White stressed that the defense will be physical with plenty of cover abilities across the secondary. The squad’s mix of experienced players and young talent should allow for multiple looks and schemes, with a continued emphasis on getting takeaways and keeping opponents’ points down.
What this means for the 2025 Gamecocks
– The defense aims to retain its sack-producing identity while adapting to the new interior depth. The combination of experienced leaders and rising stars should help the unit stay disruptive even as injuries alter depth charts.
– Leadership will be crucial, with DQ Smith providing a steady voice and Brandon Cisse offering elite athleticism and flexibility in the secondary. Kilgore’s growth at the safety position is another encouraging sign for the back end.
– The mix of size and speed across the front seven, plus a DB corps that can rotate players into multiple roles, should give South Carolina options to attack opposing backfields with multiple stunts, pressures, and coverage looks.
Summary
Clayton White’s briefing painted a clear picture of a defense poised to build on recent success through depth, leadership, and versatile playmakers. While injuries in the edge room present a challenge, the unit’s size, speed, and experience provide a foundation for an aggressive, turnover-minded defense in 2025. Leaders like DQ Smith and rising talents such as Brandon Cisse and Gerald Kilgore are central to the plan, with freshmen linebackers gradually earning more responsibility as the season progresses. The emphasis remains on effort, technique, and execution in practice and scrimmages as the team prepares for the opener.
Additional notes and potential angles to explore
– Compare White’s comments to last season’s defensive narratives to identify how the approach has evolved with a new year and new depth dynamics.
– Track the edge-rush development and how the defense compensates for depth with scheme changes or more rotating fronts.
– Monitor how Kilgore’s and Cisse’s progression translates into on-field impact during early-season games.
– Consider future features such as a breakdown of the defense’s multiple coverages and how the secondary’s versatility will be used against both run-heavy and pass-heavy opponents.
Overall, the Gamecocks appear optimistic about a 2025 defense that blends veteran leadership with promising young players, aiming to maintain pressure on opposing offenses while growing in complexity and cohesion as the season unfolds.