New South Carolina secondary coach Torrian Gray is already training one to one on the defensive back of Gamecock. Gray trained DJ Swearinger in the NFL in Washington in 2017 and 2018, two of the best years of Swearinger’s eight-year professional career.
“I told him that, he’s the smartest guy I’ve ever trained,” Gray said of Swearinger during his Gamecocks introductory press conference. “He has a very high football IQ and that is what allows DJ to still be in the league. The things I learned about South Carolina, he and Josh Norman there were two guys from South Carolina (born) in that high school. I heard a lot about South Carolina football because DJ can definitely talk and continue his conversations. How he was professional and how he behaved, it helped me to become a better coach. “
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In his first season under Gray in Washington, Swearinger recorded four interceptions, the best of his career, and was named captain of the team. A season later, he had four interceptions again with 10 defended passes, three forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. His four interceptions were tied for sixth in the NFL and the 10 Swearinger passes saved were the fifth most for a safety. He was also one of the two NFL players that season to register multiple interceptions in two or more games.
Swearinger, a three-star prospect for the 2009 Class of Greenwood, SC (Greenwood), played in 2009-12 South Carolina. He has played 52 of 53 games over four seasons, making 33 appearances. He recorded 244 tackles with six interceptions.
A choice from the second round of the 2013 NFL draft, Swearinger has played 110 games in the past eight years. He has 425 tackles, 13 loss tackles, 14 interceptions, nine forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries and 43 defended passes. Having played for Texans, Cardinals, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Washington Redskins, Saints and Raiders, he has won over $ 17 million on the football field. He played eight games with Santos in 2020.
One of the many Gamecock backs that has played in the NFL over the past three decades, Swearinger speaks volumes about the tradition that has been built on the backs of South Carolina’s defense throughout the year. Gray was not ashamed to say that he wants this tradition to return to Columbia. He put “TheNewDBU” in his Twitter bio immediately after being hired.
“When I was looking for a job here, someone posted something on Twitter about the tradition of defenders,” said Gray. “I was like, ‘Wow, this is really cool.’ We have a great tradition of defenses here. There is no reason not to be proud of it, so that’s why I put it, ‘The New DBU’ and the guys have to believe it. The guys we’re recruiting and the guys who are already here, we have to believe that we’re that type and we can be these guys. That is the mindset with which we must approach. “