South Carolina’s defense is going to lean hard on its linebackers early in 2026.
That’s the reality when you’re replacing starters at edge rusher, defensive tackle, corner and safety. If the line doesn’t get home and the back end doesn’t lock things down, the middle of the defense becomes the safety net. The Gamecocks believe they have the kind of athleticism there to keep things steady while the new pieces settle in.
Defensive coordinator Clayton White made it clear which three names sit at the center of that plan.
“Fred, Shawn, J.O.,” White said. “Those guys will rotate who’s out there first, but their snaps will be very similar.”
That trio - Fred “JayR” Johnson, Shawn Murphy and Justin Okoronkwo - arrived last season and immediately became major parts of the defense. Two of them started every game, while the third still saw plenty of action, including some snaps together when White dipped into his 3-3-5 package.
The production was spread across the board. Johnson and Okoronkwo finished second and third on the team in tackles, while Murphy was sixth. The three were separated by just 15 tackles and combined for two interceptions and a sack.
Now the job gets bigger. They’ll be the ones helping direct the new faces, keeping the defense organized and cleaning up when plays break down in front of them or behind them.
“I feel way more confident in myself, comfortable, taking a leadership role,” Johnson said in the spring. “For us three, it’s been nothing but joyful moments. There’s never any animosity that these two guys are playing more or this guy’s playing the most.”
Johnson handled the middle spot last season, serving as the player who relayed calls and signals to the rest of the defense. This year, White plans to move him between middle and weak side, a sign of how much he trusts his speed and versatility.
“That’s going to expand his role in the defense. He can now just not be stuck in one position,” White said.
“I love the fast Mike, fast defense philosophy. He’s one of our fastest players on defense.”
Okoronkwo is set to focus on the weak side, while Murphy can work at both spots. If South Carolina needs another veteran body, Jamian Risher is back for his fourth season.
A.J. Holloway and Donovan Darden round out the top six, and freshmen Andrew Harris and Keenan Britt are also in the mix.
White would rather keep the rotation tight, usually playing four linebackers and at most five in a game. Still, it wouldn’t be unusual for South Carolina to travel with 12 linebackers and use several of the extras on special teams. The core group, though, is expected to stay on the field and hold things together all season.
“With Shawn and me coming in as transfers last year, we didn’t know the playbook, we had to get adjusted with all of our academics, figure out our living situations,” Okoronkwo said. “We grew together in that room, Fred, Shaw and me, so we’ll definitely play much more comfortable than last year.”
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