Position breakdown: defensive line
Gamecock Central is breaking down each position on the football field heading into the 2017 season, with a new position each Monday. This week’s position is the defensive line.
Each week we’ll break down each position, discussing the player to watch and a newcomer who could make an impact this season.
The skinny: The defensive line struggled at times, ranking in the bottom third of the SEC in sacks last season with 21. The starters listed on the preseason depth chart all played significant time last season: Dante Sawyer, Taylor Stallworth, Ulric Jones and D.J. Wonnum.
Three listed starters—Sawyer, Stallworth and Jones—are seniors and head coach Will Muschamp challenged those players to play better and be more physical this season. Wonnum, who played in every game last year as a freshman, registered 16 tackles, which includes 3.5 tackles for loss and a sack and a half.
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Player to watch: Keir Thomas
Like Wonnum, Thomas played in all 13 games last season as a freshman. He started two games in the middle of the season against Texas A&M and Georgia but came off the bench in the other 11 games.
He picked up 15 tackles and four tackles for loss last year with two sacks. Coming into preseason practice, he is listed as the second-string defensive end behind Sawyer and should see plenty of time in the defensive line rotation.
Muschamp preaches players make the biggest leap between their freshman and sophomore years, and if Wonnum can make that kind of leap, he could be an impact player this season.
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Newcomer to watch: Javon Kinlaw
Kinlaw is one of the bigger pieces to Muschamp’s 2017 recruiting class coming out of Jones County Junior College. He chose South Carolina over schools like Alabama, Ole Miss, Southern California and Texas A&M.
He played in eight games his final season in JUCO, picking up 26 tackles and 4.5 sacks.
Kinlaw was a three-star defensive tackle coming out of Goose Creek High School in South Carolina in 2015. He opted for the junior college track and found his way back to Columbia to finish his collegiate career.
He’s not listed on the two-deep depth chart heading into camp, which starts Sunday with media day, but could work his way into the rotation early in the season with good performances over the first few practices.
The Gamecocks signed four linemen in their 2017 class alongside Kinlaw with MJ Webb, Aaron Sterling and Brad Johnson. Griffin Gentry came in with the 2016 class and redshirted as well. Shameik Blackshear is another current roster member who's had a positive summer and could take a step forward if it carries over to the field. Defensive tackles Kobe Smith and Aaron Thompson should factor in during their second year on campus.
Also see: What's the latest on Trey Dean?
Storyline to watch: Can the line pressure the quarterback?
The defensive line struggled to pressure the quarterback last season, averaging just 1.6 sacks per game and two quarterback hurries. It’s something they struggled to stop, and opposing teams took advantage by averaging 208.7 passing yards per game.
Muschamp said at multiple points during his first season how the Gamecocks need pass rushers next season, and if the Gamecocks don’t get to the quarterback more than they did last season it could turn into similar circumstances.