Shane Beamer may keep cycling through offensive coordinators, but on the other side of the ball South Carolina has had the same voice in Clayton White since 2021. That continuity matters. The Gamecocks’ defense has a clear identity: multiple fronts, a 1-gap approach, lots of man coverage, and plenty of blitzing, with a heavy emphasis on putting edge rushers in 1-on-1 battles with offensive tackles.
South Carolina opened the season with two easy tune-up wins, blanking Kent State and giving up only 9 points to Towson. Then came the SEC opener against Mississippi State, and the whole thing unraveled. The Gamecocks allowed 41 points and looked overwhelmed for most of the game.
A lot of the attention now lands on Dylan Stewart. The junior edge rusher has been talked about like a future top-ten draft pick for two years because of his rare length and athleticism, but a lingering back injury kept him out at the end of last season and through the first two games this year.
He got back on the field last week against Mississippi State, though only in limited snaps. South Carolina is expected to push his workload up against Alabama, but rust is part of the equation.
In Stewart’s absence, Caleb Herring and Anthony Addison have handled the edge work, and Addison already has a couple of sacks.
The interior of the defensive line is thinner. Gabe Brownlow-Dindy is out injured, which puts former Alabama reserve Kelby Collins in line to start at defensive tackle. Collins never really found a role last season as a tweener, so this will be a real test for him.
At linebacker, former Tide reserve Justin Okoronkwo has been a difference-maker. He was excellent for South Carolina last year and leads the team in tackles so far this season.
He’s an athletic player who also made an impact on special teams as a freshman at Alabama. Fred Johnson and Shawn Murphy are back as well.
The secondary is made up entirely of homegrown players, with no transfer additions in the starting group. Vicari Swain is back after earning All-SEC punt return honors a year ago and is getting his first real chance to be a full-time starting corner.
Judge Collier returns on the other side after serving as a steady contributor the last couple of seasons, and Peyton Williams is back at safety. All five starting defensive backs have spent their whole careers at South Carolina.
This group has given Alabama trouble over the last two seasons, and the Gamecocks return both their coaches and a large chunk of last year’s roster. The defensive line does look a step down, though, and starting an undersized Kelby Collins at tackle could become a problem if Alabama leans on the run. Stewart’s status also looms large, since this is basically his first full game in nearly a year.
There’s enough activity at linebacker to create issues, especially if Alabama gets too cute with short passes or perimeter runs. But the secondary was shaky against Mississippi State, and it’s hard to know yet whether that was a bad night or a deeper concern.
Either way, this looks like a difficult matchup for the Alabama offense. The Tide should still be able to move the ball enough, especially with interior runs, and put up 31 points.
In Other News...
Alabama Has 3 Pressure Points Against South Carolina Fans Should Watch
Alabama heads into its Week 4 matchup with South Carolina at Bryant-Denny Stadium with a few areas that could shape the night, and the Crimson Tides improved running game is near the top of the list. Daniel Hill has helped give Alabama more life on the ground, and that added balance could matter against a Gamecocks defense that will be trying to make the Tide earn every yard.
On the other side, cornerback Dijon Lee Jr. faces a tricky assignment against South Carolinas receivers, while special teams could also swing field position if punt returner Vicari Swain gets space to work. Both Shane Beamer and Kane Wommack have already offered clues about how they view the matchup, and for Alabama, the key question is whether those pressure points become advantages once the game starts. [Read more 🡒]
Jalen Hurts Opened Up About The Quarterback Legacy That Shaped Him
Jalen Hurts paused to reflect on the kind of quarterback who helped shape his own path when he saw a banner honoring Steve McNair at Nissan Stadium. The Philadelphia Eagles quarterback spoke about McNair as a major influence and inspiration during his development, a reminder that the games history reaches well beyond what shows up in the box score.
Hurts also tied McNairs legacy to the broader story of Black quarterbacks and the obstacles they have faced over time. For a player whose rise has often carried added significance, the moment brought those connections into focus in a personal way, underscoring how much the trailblazers before him still matter. [Read more 🡒]
Auburns SEC Opener Suddenly Carries More Pressure Than Expected
Auburns SEC opener is landing with a little more weight than it looked like a few weeks ago, and that is only making the trip by South Carolina more interesting for Alabama fans watching the league race unfold. Conference games have started to define the season more sharply, and this one comes with the usual mix of pressure, preparation and a reminder that early results can change how everyone views the road ahead.
South Carolina at Alabama is part of a slate that also includes Vanderbilt at Auburn, with recent performances, coaching situations and player health all feeding into the preview work around the league. The expectation is that these matchups will tell us more about where teams really stand, but the bigger point for the Tide is clear: once SEC play starts, every weekend seems to carry a little more consequence than the last. [Read more 🡒]