South Carolina came out of its 38-19 win over Florida with a clearer picture of a nagging defensive issue: the Gamecocks need a third cornerback they can trust.
For most of the season, Judge Collier and Vicari Swain have carried the load in the secondary. Entering Saturday, they led South Carolina’s defense in snaps played, and both had been on the field almost nonstop.
Collier had logged 282 of the team’s 323 defensive snaps, while Swain had 272. Sixth-year head coach Shane Beamer has seen enough to know the depth behind them has to improve.
That became impossible to ignore against the Gators.
Collier left after just 13 snaps with a head injury and did not return, forcing South Carolina to lean harder on a group of corners who had mostly only played when necessary or when a game got out of hand. The player who answered the call was Damarcus Leach, who stepped in early in the second quarter and barely left the field after that.
"Damarcus was really good," Beamer said on Sunday night. "I thought Damarcus came in and did a nice job. A couple things for Damarcus; technique-wise, we need to play a little bit better overall, but from an assignment standpoint, he was good, and he did a good job."
Leach came into the game with 40 snaps on the season, then added 53 more against Florida. Ethan Johnson and Kosci Barnes also saw expanded roles; Johnson had played just nine snaps before Saturday and Barnes had 12, but each picked up more work in The Swamp. Johnson finished with 15 snaps, and Barnes had 11.
Beamer was blunt about what the defense needs moving forward.
"We need that. We need to be able to play more than two corners," Beamer said.
"Judge and Vicari have basically been playing every snap, and we need to develop more corners, whether it be Damarcus, whether it be even Ethan Johnson, Kosci, or Jalewis (Solomon). We've got to have some other guys come along."
The extra strain on the secondary also prompted a shift in how defensive coordinator Clayton White handled the game. South Carolina typically leans on plenty of man coverage, asking corners to hold up in one-on-one situations. Against Florida, that was scaled back.
"I thought Clayton did a great job of calling the game and not always asking any of our corners to be out there on an island the entire time," Beamer explained, "and being able to give them some help coverage-wise, whether it be zone or help over the top."
Collier is expected back when South Carolina returns to action on October 24 against Tennessee. But the bigger takeaway from Saturday was already clear: even if Collier is healthy, the Gamecocks still need someone else to claim that third cornerback spot. Leach at least took a step toward making that happen.
In Other News...
Dylan Stewarts South Carolina Return Means More Than Just Playing Again
Dylan Stewarts return to the South Carolina football team came with more weight than a normal reinstatement. After an indefinite suspension from Shane Beamer for prior on-field conduct, Stewart had to work his way back by apologizing, cleaning up his behavior and showing growth away from the field as well, including strong work in the classroom. For a program that has leaned on Beamers emphasis on accountability, the process mattered almost as much as the result.
Stewarts response in the game against Florida gave the comeback immediate substance. He was active throughout the contest, finishing with five tackles, a sack and two forced fumbles, the kind of impact that reminds everyone why his return mattered to the Gamecocks in the first place. The bigger story now is whether this becomes more than a one-game redemption and a sign of steady progress from a player South Carolina still clearly needs. [Read more 🡒]
Florida Just Got A Needed Recruiting Boost After That Ugly Loss
Floridas Week 6 loss to South Carolina left the Gators sitting at 4-2 overall and 2-2 in the SEC, but the day still ended with a major recruiting lift. Five-star wide receiver Easton Royal flipped his commitment from Texas to Florida, giving the Gators a headline addition at a position that always draws attention in Gainesville.
Royal arrives with plenty of buzz as the top wide receiver in the 2027 class, and the move comes at a time when Florida could use some momentum beyond the field. His recruitment also appears to be nearing its finish, which means the Gators may not have to wait long to find out whether the commitment holds. [Read more 🡒]
Clemsons Guard Depth Takes Another Hit With Zac Foster Down Again
Clemsons guard depth has taken another jolt before the season even gets rolling, with sophomore Zac Foster confirming he tore the ACL in the same knee that had already cost him time before. The injury was diagnosed by MRI on Oct. 12, and there is no timetable for his return, leaving the Tigers to adjust again while one of their younger perimeter options goes back into recovery mode.
Brad Brownell has voiced his support for Foster and said the guard remains involved with the team despite the setback, a small but meaningful note for a program trying to keep some continuity in a spot that has already been tested. For Clemson, the bigger concern is how to absorb another loss in the backcourt while Foster faces another long rehab and the uncertainty that comes with it. [Read more 🡒]