Clayton White Stressing Importance Of Communication With Young DBs
In the opening series of their matchup against North Carolina, South Carolina lost one of their defensive leaders in Nick Emmanwori. The South Carolina native would go on to return to the game later in the first half but only managed to stay on the field for two plays before leaving the game again, this time for good.
The player who took Nick's spot was true freshman Jalon Kilgore, which was ironic because this series of events was almost identical to how Emmanwori became a mainstay in the Gamecocks' secondary last year. Kilgore played the rest of the game and performed well, but with seven first or second-year players in the two-deep for South Carolina's defense, mistakes can have massive consequences. Clayton White was asked about the youth movement in the defensive backfield on Wednesday and admitted that communicating in-game environments is something the staff is trying to replicate to help develop the secondary.
"We do feel like we got some young guys that [have] to play, and our guys do a great job of communicating regardless of just understanding each other, but it's different when you're on the field. So, we're trying to replicate that as much as possible in practice and as coaches off the field, and a little chaotic so the guys can kinda communicate through that environment. It's all about growth and development, and I think with the Judges, the Kilgores, all the young guys that [are] gonna possibly play, even still DQ, you know he's only been here just a little over a year, so there's growing [opportunities] for him as well."
With Torrian Gray coaching them along the way, it's fair to say that long-term, the position is in good hands. At the same time, this unit'll deal with waves of growing pains as the Gamecocks continue to progress throughout the 2023 season.
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