The South Carolina Gamecocks have key personnel in all the right places but there is one area that is of concern for USC entering the 2011 season and that is the secondary.
Here is a look at that unit –
Corners
CB: Stephon Gilmore (Jr. 6’1” 194lbs) – The leader of the secondary is Stephon Gilmore. Some may say he had a bad 2010 but do remind them that he made it on the SEC Coaches first team ALL-SEC list. Not a lot of concern here as Gilmore will be a lock down corner in 2011. Typically, you will see him on the opposing offenses No. 1 wide receiver threat.
CB: Akeem Auguste (Sr. 5’10” 183lbs.) – Akeem Auguste has gone from CB-S-CB the last three seasons. He arrives back at CB with a big smile on his face and a smile on many Gamecock football fans as they know this is his natural spot. Auguste will be responsible for holding down the field opposite Gilmore. There is no reason to think that by the end of 2011 there will be talk of Gilmore-Auguste being one of the best corner tandems in the SEC.
CB: C.C. Whitlock (Sr 5’10 181) – Whitlock sometimes looks like USC’s best cover corner, other times he looks like he is lost in the open field. Whitlock is listed as the back-up to Auguste but Whitlock will push hard for playing time. Whitlock is the first corner on the field when USC goes to its nickle/dime packages. In 2011, Whitlock needs to improve his tackling but he should also log his fair share of snaps this year as he provides excellent depth in the secondary.
CB: Victor Hampton (RS Fr 5’9” 194lbs. ) – Vic Hampton has huge upside just needs to stay focused. He is a gambler at the position and he also has a very high ceiling as a player if he can keep his off the field issues to a minimium (ie.e academics). With Gilmore-Auguste-Whitlock, snaps will be hard to come by but he has locked down the No. 4 CB spot on this team as the back-up to Gilmore. He will miss the first few games of 2011 but should come on strong once he is able to play.
Others at Corner
There are three others fighting for playing time at corner – Cadarious Sanders (RS Fr 5’11” 182lbs), Martay Mattox (Fr 6’1” 186lbs.) and Marty Markett (SR 5’10” 166lbs.). All three provide good depth at Corner but due to the first two slots on the depth chart being filled, you may not see these three too often expect when the game is put away. Mattox could also get some looks as a back-up safety.
Also USC would be well served to redshirt Sheldon Royster and Ahmad Christian. Both have done good things for USC through preseason practices but no reason to waste a year given the talent in front of them.
Safeties
SS: D.J. Swearinger (Jr. 5’11” 206lbs.) – D.J. has this position locked down and is a gifted athelete that has a knack for being around the ball. He played well in 2010, is very physical against the run, and pretty decent versus the pass. D.J. has a very big task this year of making sure that the guy lining up next to him knows his assignment on each play because he is being counted on to help serve as the QB of the defense.
FS: Corey Addison (RS So 6’0” 209lbs.) – Corey has had the injury bug his first two seasons and missed some critical time this spring with an injury so the coaches really haven’t gotten a chance to see him as much as they would like. Now in his third year with the program, the staff hopes he has a very big year at the safety slot due to the need for quality depth at Safety.
SS: Jimmy Legree (RS So 5’11” 180lbs.) – Legree has made the move from corner to safety and in doing so has stepped up at a position that USC needs badly to perform at a high level in 2011. If you recall, defensive coach Ellis Johnson moved former safety DeVonte Holloman to the Spur position and created a void at safety entering 2011. Legree has caught on quickly to what USC needs in a safety and should get every opportunity to shine. He was getting pushed by freshman Brison Williams but now that he is out due to a broken arm in a recent practice, it is Legree’s starting spot.
SS: Sharod Golightly (RS Fr. 5’10” 185lbs.) – Golightly has good speed for a safety and loves to hit. As long as he can maintain good pursuit angles and continue to improve his tackling he can help the safety post out tremendously in 2011. He should see plenty of action this year as not much else is behind him and the Gamecocks do not want to move DeVonte Holloman back to Safety.
Other Safeties to note –
The Gamecocks would have loved to use Brison Williams in 2011 but he recently broke his arm and word is he is done for the season. He will be issued a redshirt and so should Kadetrix Marcus.
As you can see, the Gamecocks have improved as far as personnel over 2010. Their one key loss from last year was Chris Culliver.
With the Gamecocks front seven looking very solid, the USC secondary needs to prove they are not going to bend in 2011. With expectations high for South Carolina in 2011, how far they get will depend on their pass defense. This secondary unit has the talent, experience and speed. Just have to keep the confidence high and prove the doubters wrong in 2011 as they help USC reach the BCS for the first time in the program’s history.
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Other LOHD Position Primers
—Gamecocks Football: Summer Position Primer – Quarterback
—Gamecocks Football: Summer Position Primer – Running Back
—Gamecocks Football: Summer Position Primer – Fullback
—Gamecocks Football: Summer Position Primer – Wide Receivers
—Gamecocks Football: Summer Position Primer – Tight End
—Gamecocks Football: Summer Position Primer – Offensive Line
—Gamecocks Football: Summer Position Primer – Defensive Line
