Bryson Allen-Williams embracing lead-by-doing role this season

South Carolina’s defense was in a heavy transitional year coming into the 2016 season: they finished 94th in total defense last year, they’re going through a coaching change and now having to be without arguably the best defensive player Skai Moore.

The Gamecocks were looking for a veteran leader to step up this year to lead the defense. Enter Bryson Allen-Williams.

“Coach Muschamp talks about us being leaders not based on what year you are, but leading by example,” Allen-Williams said. “And that’s what I’m trying to do: not be a vocal leader, taking it to the field and being the guy who gives the most effort. And then the other guys will see me give that effort and they decide to give effort.”

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Allen-Williams is a rising junior who will be expected to help anchor a defense that has struggled in the SEC the last two seasons. A relatively unproven commodity, he’s played in all 24 games, but only started two, at Carolina.

When he does play, he’s shined with 50 total tackles (32 solo), three sacks and one interception. He starred in last season’s 19-10 win over Vanderbilt with three tackles and his interception.

And now, with Moore out for the season with a neck injury, Allen-Williams and the rest of the linebacker corps will have to step up to fill the 56-tackle, four-interception void Moore’s leaving.

“We all know we’re going to have to spread the love,” Allen-Williams said. “Not one player can replace Skai. He’s probably going to go down as one of the greatest Gamecocks in history. So we have to spread the love and everyone divide his plays, his opportunities amongst ourselves.”

Allen-Williams is in a gray area with his size last year (6-foot, 230 pounds), where he didn’t fit into a linebacker position or Lorenzo Ward’s SPUR position. This offseason, he added five extra pounds so now he fits solely in as a linebacker.

Which linebacker position he’ll play is still up in the air, however. Allen-Williams spent time last year in the middle and on the outside, dropping back in coverage and rushing the quarterback.

This year, with his added size, he expects more of the same.

“I’m going to be multiple in what I do,” he said. “So they just want me to put on a little weight, a little muscle. Just to bulk up for the season. And I think that’s going to help me this season.”

The Gamecocks enter this season being picked last in the SEC East and not being picked to make it to the postseason for the second-straight year. Allen-Williams said he hears all of that and it just makes him and the rest of the team work harder.

South Carolina opens its season Sept. 1 on the road against Vanderbilt.

“Just know we’re going to be one of the hardest working teams,” Allen-Williams said. “We have to work the hardest; everyone doubts us, so we have to be a hard working group.”

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