COLUMBIA — South Carolina football defensive coordinator Clayton White won’t call it fake news but it sure sounds like it.
The topic was the Gamecocks’ defense, specifically with turnovers, and it concluded turnovers were somewhat lucky.
He may have let out a little scoff, as he was confused how something his players practice two or three times a day, and focus on so intently is ultimately, was just some luck.
“We forced 88 turnovers in four years, that’s a lot of luck,” White said with a smirk.
White’s been the orchestrator of South Carolina’s defense since 2021 and the 88 forced turnovers in four years is the highest total in the SEC during that stretch.
It’s not luck, it’s just talent and discipline but White isn’t the one punching out the ball. Those who were key to so much of the Gamecocks’ success during that time and especially in 2024, are now preparing for an NFL career.
A record 11 players from the program were invited to the NFL combine, more than double the number of invites from any year since 2013. Eight of the 11 are on the defensive side, all looking to be selected in the 2025 NFL Draft on April 24-26.
Among the prospects are defensive backs Nick Emmanwori and O’Donnell Fortune, defensive tackles Tonka Hemingway, TJ Sanders and DeAndre Jules, linebackers Demetrius Knight Jr., and Bam Martin-Scott plus edge rusher Kyle Kennard.
The program record for players drafted is nine, set in 1954 when there were 360 players selected in 30 rounds. South Carolina is expected to have six or seven players selected based on mock drafts, which would be the most since there were seven in 2013
Coach Shane Beamer said he’s talked to NFL managers more this year than the last four combined.
“Those guys are excited about our players,” Beamer said in a radio interview April 17.
Nick Emmanwori, South Carolina’s defense wanted to be better in 2024
It’s no secret the 2023 season didn’t meet anyone’s expectations at South Carolina. A 5-7 record, and early season struggles with the 4-2-5 defense sent White adjusting to a 3-3-5 for the latter half.
It worked out in White’s favor, and the season ended better than it started.
In the era of the transfer portal, and some players pursuing their NFL aspirations as early as possible, staying where you started is no longer the standard.
“Just imagine if we all came back,” White said of the group’s approach. “If everybody came back, the staff, the players, and we added a couple pieces, what could we do?”
White said for Emmanwori, then a sophomore safety composed of elite speed and talent, his “camp” pondered this idea of leaving for something shinier, better, more successful. Emmanwori didn’t know if he could be recognized on a team with a so-so defense.
“But he believed that if we all came back, there’s no reason why we couldn’t have a historic defense,” White said. “I think they all felt the same thing. And then when we added some pieces.”
South Carolina’s 2024 success led to a historic number of draft prospects
White returned leaders in Hemmingway, Sanders, and Alex Huntley (not invited to combine). Martin-Scott came back with linebacker experience, and Fortune returned with Emmanwori in the secondary.
“Some pieces” turned into award winners and key contributors.
Kennard transferred from Georgia Tech and in one season dominated the SEC. He led the SEC with 11.5 sacks and won the Bronko Nagurski Award, given each year to the nation’s best defender.
Knight, another transfer, joined Martin-Scott in the linebackers room, after playing at both Charlotte and Georgia Tech. He and Emmanwori led the Gamecocks with 57 solo tackles each. Emmanwori also had a team-high four interceptions.
Jules rounded out the bevy of veteran tackles as a transfer to spend a sixth-year of college with the Gamecocks. He had 10 solo tackles.
“It was a lot of great additions with returners that were hungry,” White said.
The defense finished in the top 25 in nine statistical categories. The Gamecocks finished first in forced fumbles, first in opponents first down percentage and sixth in sacks.
It was an indisputable desire for both transfers and returning players to make 2024 the best season yet, while also looking forward.
“They had their mindset on if we have a good season, if we played away, we all should have an opportunity (to get drafted),” White said.
Emmanwori, who finished fourth among all safeties in two categories at the combine, is a projected first-round pick. Sanders is projected in the second round, with Knight and Kennard in the fifth.
“I just think back on just the groundwork that they laid here,” White said of this group of now NFL draft prospects. “Obviously, it was a historic group for just the production was crazy, the awards, the accomplishments, and now they’re all getting a chance to to really go out and show them … they were able to showcase and put South Carolina on the map.”
Lulu Kesin covers South Carolina athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email her at lkesin@gannett.com and follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, @Lulukesin
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