It’s been a busy week for South Carolina, which signed the bulk of its 2022 recruiting class including a handful of potentially impactful defensive players.
Shane Beamer’s touched base on most, but here are a few of the defensive backs we hadn’t written about yet at GamecockCentral.
D’Andre Martin, three-star defensive lineman (Va.)
Height, weight: 6-foot-5, 290 pounds
Early enrollee?: Yes
What Beamer said: “Man, we’re all excited about his potential as well…He’s every bit of 6-foot-5 and 290 and was a 230 pound receiver a year and a half ago. He went to life Christian academy as a receiver and grew…He was at our camp and remember going out to the football stadium in June at camp and they’re telling me this guy from Durham that goes to school in Virginia is out here killing everybody.
I go out there and watch and he was. The joy he took in dominating every single one-on-one rep he had out there was impressive. Then come to find out he’d only been playing defensive line for like a month. He’s got a ton of upside, a great personality and you guys are going to love him as an interview. We’re really, really excited about his potential up front with all those guys as well.
We knew up front was a major need for us with JJ most likely leaving, we knew that going into the season. Aaron Sterling was leaving, Jabari Ellis was leaving, Zacch Pickens was an older guy and Jordan Strachan being an older guy, MJ Webb and Devontae Davis being older guys. We knew that was a position we needed to overhaul and get some guys in here. We feel like we have along the defensive line.”
Bryan Thomas Jr., three-star defensive end (Fla.)
Height, weight: 6-foot-3, 225 pounds
Early enrollee?: No
What Beamer said: “He was here for a camp this summer. His dad was a great football player in his own right. I like what Bryan’s about. He was here this summer and came back on an official visit early and committed during the season as well.”
Demetrius Watson, three-star defensive tackle (S.C.)
Height, weight: 6-foot-3, 285 pounds
Early enrollee?: No
What Beamer said: “He’s one, I’ll be honest with you, didn’t know a whole lot about and he came to our camp this summer and did a really nice job in camp with a high motor and big upside. He loves to fish. He’ll send me videos on Sunday where he goes out on the water and caught sharks and everything else.
He’s a fascinating guy…I think we got a lot of guys like that: South Carolina guys we signed that may be weren’t necessarily highly recruited that we see a huge upside in their ability to become players here at a high level in the SEC.
It reminds me of the guys we signed here before we maybe weren’t household names and not highly recruited that ended up developing and becoming great players. I think a lot of these guys have the same qualities.”
Donovan Westmoreland, three-star linebacker (Ga.)
Height, weight: 6-foot, 214 pounds
Early enrollee?: Yes
What Beamer said: “He decided this is where he wanted to be. I think he has a lot of positional flexibility…Westmoreland is a guy I think of inside linebacker, edge with coach Peterson. He’s got a great ability to rush the passer and a great personality. He plays really, really hard and has a lot of positional flexibility in our front seven."
----
• Not a subscriber? Learn more about Gamecock Central here!
• Watch our live show and subscribe to our YouTube channel.
• Sign up for Gamecock Central's FREE news alerts and daily newsletter.
• Subscribe to our podcast on whatever podcast platform you prefer!
• Follow us on Twitter: @GamecockCentral, @GCChrisClark, @WesMitchellGC, @CollynTaylor and @Mike_Uva.
• Follow Gamecock Central on Instagram @GamecockCentral.
