During the final 10 days until the start of South Carolina's season, Gamecock Central will use each day to take a look at 10 storylines that will most directly affect the success of Carolina's 2018 campaign.
With four days until kickoff, we look at our No. 4 storyline - the return of Bryson Allen-Williams.
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With 10 tackles, two sacks, an interception and a fumble recovery in the first three games of 2017, South Carolina senior linebacker Bryson Allen-Williams looked poised to make his last season his best. Then a season-ending shoulder injury against Kentucky foiled those plans.
"Losing him was a huge blow to us last year," head coach Will Muschamp said. "Bryson gives you an edge presence to really win on the edge with speed. He has worked extremely hard on the mental side of it and physically. I think he’s having a good camp."
After getting a medical redshirt last year, Allen-Williams is back for his second senior season and again looks poised for a big year.
Allen-Williams, who will play both SAM linebacker and BUCK this season, believes he's found his home after his early college career was defined by position shuffling.
He played those positions last year, too, as Muschamp and the defensive staff looked for ways to utilize both Allen-Williams and D.J. Wonnum - their two best pass-rushers - on the field at the same time.
That role allows the 6-foot-1, 230-pounder to use his natural ability to explode off the edge and bend past blockers to get to the quarterback.
"He can really rush the passer. He plays with a lot of effort and runs to the ball," BUCKs coach Mike Peterson said. “It’s just trying to simplify those things and let’s get him in situations where he can rush the passer and run and use his athletic ability."
The Gamecocks lost that edge rushing ability for most of last season. Now they get it back, as a hungry Allen-Williams appears ready to complete the best season of his career.
"Bryson has taught me a lot, in different moves to use, and speed. We have different styles of rushing, so a lot of times, I try to do what he does," Wonnum said. "With his speed and his versatility coming back, it’s going to be big for us this year."
The 10 days until football
No. 5 - Breakout year for Rico Dowdle?
No. 6 - T.J. Brunson the leader
No. 7 - The emergence of Jaycee Horn
No. 9 - The graduate transfers
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