C
Collyn Taylor
Guest
Tyrese Ross
--Coming to South Carolina was a lot about the coaching staff. Says he believes in what South Carolina is doing and really likes everything about it. Thinks the staff cares and it's shown.
--Working mostly at safety right now. Second group right now. Said it's pretty set rotation right now.
--Said he really likes the versatility in Clayton White's defense. Mentions they put a big emphasis on being physical and said he brings that.
--Getting out of the southeast and going to Washington State really helped him grow and get into a different part of the country. Said he was out on his own without any family out there. He really had to grow up fast and that helped him.
--Missed a few days because of COVID protocols. He's been back now for three days. Today was his first day back in full pads. Jokes he was able to lay a few hits today (he didn't get into specifics).
--Mentions he just needs to get his feet back under him and that will help him compete for more reps with the first team. Said he's asking a lot of questions in film sessions to make sure he's learning since other guys at safety have been in practice more than he has this camp.
Debo Williams
--He feels very comfortable right now in the defense, and said he's learned so much in a few months on campus. Said he's working with the ones, twos, and wherever he can at inside linebacker.
--He's been impressed with a lot of the hard-hitters on defense. Mentions every linebacker and then Tyrese Ross. Mentions Kolbe Fields has done a nice job since getting on campus as well.
--Said the big emphasis is being able to tackle. Hitting hard is great but you need to wrap up, and from a physicality standpoint can be about setting the edge and playing physically in the run game or in the pass coverage outside of tackling.
--On what he can bring to a team,: energy, physicality, playing on special teams.
--Said the coaches break everything down from a defensive perspective and it makes it really easy for defensive players to digest to help mix coverages and fronts.
--Said MarShawn Lloyd has "that R2 button." Mentions he has another gear and is really fast. Said Juju McDowell is insanely fast and people "can't tackle what they can't see." Said he also brings energy that's contagious.
Marcellas Dial
--Said he feels like he's made a big step coming out from junior college and trying to take advantage of every opportunity he gets. Repping with the ones right now.
--Josh Vann, Rico Powers, Jalen Brooks are all guys he mentioned as guys who've given him issues.
--Said things really began to start clicking for him this fall and he hasn't really gone back. Said he feels like he's earned this moment. Mentions the first day of camp was a big turning point for him.
--Darius Rush is working with him at the ones. RJ Roderick and Jaylan Foster are out there with the ones at safety. Said that's been the group throughout camp and they have a lot of chemistry. David Spaulding is a little banged up but Carlins Platel is taking first-team reps at nickel.
--Said he's really physical and fast and can come up and hit and makes plays in both man and zone. Said he feels like he can play on an island by himself. "I feel like I bring a lot to the table."
--Said the biggest difference from here and JUCO is the food. Mentions he'd get a five dollar pizza at Little Caesars.
Jabari Ellis
--Said he's embracing a leadership role. He knows this is his last season in college and wants to really help bring along some of the younger guys.
--TJ Sanders is "fresh in" but wants to learn. He wants to keep doing a drill until he gets it right.
--Said Zacch Pickens is different. He believes the kind of player he can be and showing some promise.
--Along with him, leaders on the team: JJ Enagbare, Sherrod Greene, Jaylan Foster, Brad Johnson.
--Asked about his time at GMC, said he probably hated it at the time but really truly found himself there and came out of it a man.
--Said there are a lot of impressive newcomers. Said he's been really impressed with their work ethic. Juju McDowell gets another shoutout. Kolbe Fields gets another shoutout as well.
Brad Johnson
--Spring was a big step for him getting comfortable in the WIL spot and setting up in the spring. Going through the summer that really helped him as well. Now in camp he feels like he's "blossomed a little bit" and is moving more freely.
--Hardest hitter on the defense? "Our whole 11...I can't pick up one hard hitter. We're all coming."
--On Juju McDowell: "He's probably 5-7 or 5-8, and a buck-50 but he plays bigger." Said it's hard to tackle guys like him and MarShawn Lloyd.
--He and Sherrod Greene were roommates for a couple years. The two are like brothers, and they're really close and consider each other family. It translates to on the field too. He's really excited about playing side by side. They always wanted to do it but couldn't last year because of Greene's injury. Mentions Greene's "looked good" in camp so far.
RJ Roderick
--Said he's "loving every minute" with the new staff spending time together. It's been "amazing" getting to be part of the team. He's catching on to the defense very easily and feels like he can incorporate into the defense.
--Biggest difference in this scheme is there's more pressure on the corners with keys. Mentions they feel more involved from a safety perspective in this defense.
--Said the biggest talking point so far is "controlled aggression." Mentions they've had a turnover in every team period during practice.
--Mentions he can bring a lot of leadership. Goes as far as saying he knows he's given up a lot of big plays and he can use those now as teaching moments for some of the newer guys. Said he's gone through a complete evolution over the last four years. He's finally comfortable now, he says.
Jordan Burch
--Says learning the defense is going "pretty well." He's studying his plays and asking a lot of questions in meetings.
--Said it's going to be exciting to have a lot of good edge rushers. Mentions they can move guys around, put multiple quality edge rushers on the field at the same time can put a lot of pressure on the offense.
--Mentions Zeb Noland, Nick Barrett and TJ Sanders as some new guys who are impressing him.
--Said last year was tough to really correct some of the issues he had in practice because of COVID protocols. Now things are more "hands on" and he's able to correct things and get things answered in film sessions easier than last year.
--Said everyone's doing their job forcing turnovers. Had a big smile on his face when talking about it.
That's a wrap.
--Coming to South Carolina was a lot about the coaching staff. Says he believes in what South Carolina is doing and really likes everything about it. Thinks the staff cares and it's shown.
--Working mostly at safety right now. Second group right now. Said it's pretty set rotation right now.
--Said he really likes the versatility in Clayton White's defense. Mentions they put a big emphasis on being physical and said he brings that.
--Getting out of the southeast and going to Washington State really helped him grow and get into a different part of the country. Said he was out on his own without any family out there. He really had to grow up fast and that helped him.
--Missed a few days because of COVID protocols. He's been back now for three days. Today was his first day back in full pads. Jokes he was able to lay a few hits today (he didn't get into specifics).
--Mentions he just needs to get his feet back under him and that will help him compete for more reps with the first team. Said he's asking a lot of questions in film sessions to make sure he's learning since other guys at safety have been in practice more than he has this camp.
Debo Williams
--He feels very comfortable right now in the defense, and said he's learned so much in a few months on campus. Said he's working with the ones, twos, and wherever he can at inside linebacker.
--He's been impressed with a lot of the hard-hitters on defense. Mentions every linebacker and then Tyrese Ross. Mentions Kolbe Fields has done a nice job since getting on campus as well.
--Said the big emphasis is being able to tackle. Hitting hard is great but you need to wrap up, and from a physicality standpoint can be about setting the edge and playing physically in the run game or in the pass coverage outside of tackling.
--On what he can bring to a team,: energy, physicality, playing on special teams.
--Said the coaches break everything down from a defensive perspective and it makes it really easy for defensive players to digest to help mix coverages and fronts.
--Said MarShawn Lloyd has "that R2 button." Mentions he has another gear and is really fast. Said Juju McDowell is insanely fast and people "can't tackle what they can't see." Said he also brings energy that's contagious.
Marcellas Dial
--Said he feels like he's made a big step coming out from junior college and trying to take advantage of every opportunity he gets. Repping with the ones right now.
--Josh Vann, Rico Powers, Jalen Brooks are all guys he mentioned as guys who've given him issues.
--Said things really began to start clicking for him this fall and he hasn't really gone back. Said he feels like he's earned this moment. Mentions the first day of camp was a big turning point for him.
--Darius Rush is working with him at the ones. RJ Roderick and Jaylan Foster are out there with the ones at safety. Said that's been the group throughout camp and they have a lot of chemistry. David Spaulding is a little banged up but Carlins Platel is taking first-team reps at nickel.
--Said he's really physical and fast and can come up and hit and makes plays in both man and zone. Said he feels like he can play on an island by himself. "I feel like I bring a lot to the table."
--Said the biggest difference from here and JUCO is the food. Mentions he'd get a five dollar pizza at Little Caesars.
Jabari Ellis
--Said he's embracing a leadership role. He knows this is his last season in college and wants to really help bring along some of the younger guys.
--TJ Sanders is "fresh in" but wants to learn. He wants to keep doing a drill until he gets it right.
--Said Zacch Pickens is different. He believes the kind of player he can be and showing some promise.
--Along with him, leaders on the team: JJ Enagbare, Sherrod Greene, Jaylan Foster, Brad Johnson.
--Asked about his time at GMC, said he probably hated it at the time but really truly found himself there and came out of it a man.
--Said there are a lot of impressive newcomers. Said he's been really impressed with their work ethic. Juju McDowell gets another shoutout. Kolbe Fields gets another shoutout as well.
Brad Johnson
--Spring was a big step for him getting comfortable in the WIL spot and setting up in the spring. Going through the summer that really helped him as well. Now in camp he feels like he's "blossomed a little bit" and is moving more freely.
--Hardest hitter on the defense? "Our whole 11...I can't pick up one hard hitter. We're all coming."
--On Juju McDowell: "He's probably 5-7 or 5-8, and a buck-50 but he plays bigger." Said it's hard to tackle guys like him and MarShawn Lloyd.
--He and Sherrod Greene were roommates for a couple years. The two are like brothers, and they're really close and consider each other family. It translates to on the field too. He's really excited about playing side by side. They always wanted to do it but couldn't last year because of Greene's injury. Mentions Greene's "looked good" in camp so far.
RJ Roderick
--Said he's "loving every minute" with the new staff spending time together. It's been "amazing" getting to be part of the team. He's catching on to the defense very easily and feels like he can incorporate into the defense.
--Biggest difference in this scheme is there's more pressure on the corners with keys. Mentions they feel more involved from a safety perspective in this defense.
--Said the biggest talking point so far is "controlled aggression." Mentions they've had a turnover in every team period during practice.
--Mentions he can bring a lot of leadership. Goes as far as saying he knows he's given up a lot of big plays and he can use those now as teaching moments for some of the newer guys. Said he's gone through a complete evolution over the last four years. He's finally comfortable now, he says.
Jordan Burch
--Says learning the defense is going "pretty well." He's studying his plays and asking a lot of questions in meetings.
--Said it's going to be exciting to have a lot of good edge rushers. Mentions they can move guys around, put multiple quality edge rushers on the field at the same time can put a lot of pressure on the offense.
--Mentions Zeb Noland, Nick Barrett and TJ Sanders as some new guys who are impressing him.
--Said last year was tough to really correct some of the issues he had in practice because of COVID protocols. Now things are more "hands on" and he's able to correct things and get things answered in film sessions easier than last year.
--Said everyone's doing their job forcing turnovers. Had a big smile on his face when talking about it.
That's a wrap.
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