Defensive Coordinator of South Carolina Gamecocks Clayton White has not had much to work with so far.
With only three days of spring practice on the books, it means they only had one session with the complete blocks. In addition, they have few players in some areas on the defensive side of the ball. Secondary, in particular, has been an act of juggling until now for White and Torrian Gray, who trains the position.
“It’s kind of hard to try to get a 4-2-5 when you don’t have 10,” said White.
South Carolina’s first-year defensive coordinator laughed as he spoke that line during a press release on Monday afternoon. Ten scholarship advocates were listed on the list when they opened spring training just over a week ago.
At least one of these scholarship players, Joey Hunter, will be limited during the spring while he is recovering from a foot injury. Dominick hill he is also returning from an off-season procedure.
In addition, there are a handful of DBs that do not report until the end of this year, including JUCO transfer Isaiah Norris and Carlins Platel, who is transferring from Assumption College. Three stars La’Dareyen Craig is finishing his high school in Alabama.
“It’s been a challenge,” said White, when asked about the lack of available bodies. “I think that, as coaches, it made us more creative. This makes us look at the practice schedule a little more deeply. It makes us look at ourselves, as coaches, as we are going to teach. Which players will learn two positions?
“So, it’s really making us a little bit deeper than it might seem. Mentally, when it comes to defense, as soon as we get our bodies and get our guys that we need to get here, I think in the end it will be worth it for us, it will pay dividends, because teaching four or five guys from multiple positions, I think that will help us in the end. “
In addition to the South Carolina high school numbers, White discussed several topics related to his defense, three days after spring training.
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