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Injuries, practice performances position Brunson for early playing time

Gamecocks LB coach Coleman Hutzler

With Skai Moore already sidelined for the season and Larenz Bryant likely to miss the first few games with a hamstring ailment, linebacker depth is rapidly becoming a scarce commodity.

South Carolina linebackers coach Coleman Hutzler enters the second half of preseason camp with three experienced linebackers healthy enough to practice – Bryson Allen-Williams, T.J. Holloman and Jonathan Walton.

The door is open for a young player to walk through, and true freshman T.J. Brunson from Richland Northeast High School is tracking to earn early playing time for the Sept. 1 season opener at Vanderbilt (8 p.m., ESPN).

Following in the footsteps of former Gamecock Rodney Paulk a decade earlier, Brunson was a tackling machine for RNE in 2015 when he made 140 tackles and was named Defensive MVP of the Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas.

So far for the Gamecocks, Brunson has demonstrated those same instincts and nose for the football.

“T.J. Brunson has really done some good things,” Hutzler said. “He was a heckuva high school player. Unfortunately, he had an injury his junior year (serious hip injury) that held him out. But he has done very well up to this point. It’s not a surprise in any way.

“I hope (he is on pace to see action). To say you’re going to get through the season with two or three guys, that’s hard to do in the SEC. If he is ready to play, Coach (Muschamp) and our staff have never been hesitant to play freshmen. He’s a smart kid that wants to learn and know it.”

The presence of Brunson, redshirt freshman Sherrod Pittman and now Chris Moody has Hutzler insisting linebacker depth is not a concern.

“Obviously, we’d like to have everybody healthy, but injuries are a part of the game and they happen,” Hutzler said. “We’re excited about the guys we have. Jonathan Walton, T.J. Holloman and Bryson Allen-Williams have done a great job up to this point. And we have some other guys coming along.”

Moody, a fifth-year senior, has played his entire Gamecocks career (37 games) in the secondary. His best season came in 2014 when he made 37 tackles and made seven starts. Last year, he spent the majority of his time on special teams and finished with four tackles.

After last season ended, Moody left the program for a time and was reportedly eying a transfer. But he rejoined the team during spring practice.

“I commend him for the fact we approached him and said we have an opportunity because of an unfortunate injury (Bryant), so let’s try it out,” Hutzler said. “He has been very unselfish and done a great job the past couple of days. It’s not a permanent thing right now, but it’s a position for him that he can take advantage of and do some good things for us.”

Barring anything unforeseen between today and Sept. 1, Walton, Holloman and Allen-Williams should be the Gamecocks’ three starters at linebacker in Nashville.

“They are getting a lot of reps (in practice),” Hutzler said. “The good thing is we can pull one of those guys out and throw a young guy in there and see how he reacts and whether he plays with the tempo and speed of the first group.”

Saturday’s scrimmage was important for some potential backup players in terms of finding a spot on the 70-man roster for the road trip to Vanderbilt.

“Everybody wants to get on that bus to go to Vandy and play on Sept. 1,” Hutzler said. “But don’t some sit in my office Aug. 28 and ask me if you can play. That has been the message from Day 1. Guys are going to be put into situations (Saturday) to see if they can rise to the occasion and we’ll evaluate from there.”

NOTES:

-- Gamecock cornerback Chris Lammons told reporters on Media Day that he believed the USC secondary would be better than people thought in 2016. Halfway through camp, his feelings haven’t changed. “I feel like we’re ready to play and we’re going to surprise a lot of people,” Lammons said recently. “I have confidence in everybody in our secondary. The way we’re stepping up and communicating, (we should do well). I felt the same way last year, but I feel way more better now because we’re older and smarter and playing harder than we did last year.” Lammons acknowledged both the secondary and the entire USC defense missed a lot of tackles last season. A focus on being more physical should help, he said.

-- Lammons said he is working with the first-team secondary along with Rico McWilliams and Rashad Fenton at CB and Chaz Elder, D.J. Smith and Jordan Diggs at safety. CB JaMarcus King is splitting time between the first team and second team as he adjusts to major college football after a stint in the JUCO ranks.

-- Ulric Jones said he has been rotating snaps primarily with Kelsey Griffin at one of the defensive tackle spots. Marquavius Lewis has taken snaps inside, as well. Jones returned to the defensive line after moving over to offensive line/tight end last season. “It feels good to be back on the defensive side of the ball,” Jones said. “Coach Thompson is a great coach, Coach T-Rob is a great coach. They know their stuff. I just come in and work hard.” Jones said he and Thompson have forged a special relationship. “Coach Thompson is a special coach because he teaches me, he coaches me, he is a father figure to all of us. I enjoy playing for him a lot.”

-- Rico McWilliams said the Gamecocks cornerbacks are playing press coverage ‘about 70 to 80 percent’ of the time in practice. “I like it a lot, but you have work on your technique and believe in the technique they are coaching,” McWilliams said. “If you do that, you should be fine. You have to be in great shape because you have to run to the ball and then get back and line up against a great receiver.”

-- Safety Jordan Diggs said he is “back-to-normal” after not participating in spring drills while rehabbing from post-season shoulder surgery. “I feel really good,” Diggs said. “I’ve been doing a great job getting treatment and doing extra work to keep my shoulder strong. I’m playing fast and moving well. I feel faster.” Diggs likes the new scheme introduced by Will Muschamp and Travaris Robinson because “you get to make more plays on the ball and you’re in better positions.” Diggs said he has practiced the majority of time at safety with some time at nickel mixed in. Diggs said the physical demands of the nickel back are similar to the former spur position, which he played in 2013-14 when Lorenzo Ward was defensive coordinator. Rashad Fenton has grabbed most of the reps at nickel, Diggs said.

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TJ Brunson looks to make a play at a recent Gamecocks practice
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