Rodricus Fitten 'going to be a problem' for other teams

South Carolina lost one of its primary pass rushers heading into the season with Bryson Allen-Williams moving on to NFL pastures after graduating, but the Gamecocks have replaced him with another player that’s almost similar.

Rodricus Fitten is the team’s lone BUCK signee in the 2019 class and is reminding his teammates of Allen-Williams when he was at South Carolina.

“He’s strong, he’s fast and he’s quick,” Brad Johnson said. “Once he learns the technique, the fundamentals and what to do and how to do it and play fast all the time he’s going to be a problem.”

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Fitten is one of 10 early enrollees going through spring practice this year, coming in at 6-foot-2 and 232 pounds which is one inch taller and two pounds heavier than Allen-Williams came in at his senior season.

Johnson said Fitten is a little bit stronger than Allen-Williams was but needs to play a little looser than he’s doing right now.

Fitten has been full-go in practice already, being groomed as one of the team’s pass rushers behind Johnson and D.J. Wonnum and is impressing his teammates.

“He’s got a lot of potential. He reminds me a lot of myself. It’s crazy to see coaches getting on him and riding him and making sure he knows where to do,” Johnson said. “Now going into my junior year and seeing where I am now and where he is it makes me feel old.”

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Fitten was the Gamecocks’ first commitment in the 2019 class, announcing his decision in September of his junior season and held on through the rest of the recruitment process that ended with him coming to Columbia in January.

He’s already endearing himself to his teammates, earning himself a new nickname now that he’s arrived on campus: Hot Rod.

“Hot Rod, it’s in the name,” Johnson said, laughing. “He’s quick, he’s fast, he’s strong.”

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Johnson is coming into his junior year after racking up 29 tackles and 3.5 sacks his first two positions.

He’ll factor into the BUCK position as well and that’s where he’s working exclusively as spring practice continues.

He has been able to watch a few other newcomers this spring, with Zacch Pickens another player that’s jumped out at him.

Pickens hasn’t been 100 percent through spring practice with a knee injury limiting him in the beginning but Johnson said he definitely thinks the five-star freshman will work himself into some playing time.

“He’s been playing a lot of tackle and I feel like that’s going to be his primary position,” Johnson said. “He’s going to be a dominant force for all SEC teams.”