South Carolina Football: Early two-deep 2017 depth chart projection

Defensive Backs

Starting Cornerbacks: Chris Lammons, Jamarcus King
Backups: Rashad Fenton, Jamyest Williams

Just like the defensive line, the corners and safeties need to play better and be more consistent. I think they can do that by mixing up the cornerback positions a little bit. Lammons usually plays the nickel, but I think Jamyest Williams might be able to take over that position this year and move Lammons to one of the corners. Lammons has the best ball skills out of the corners and true freshman Williams and Fenton can fight for the nickel/backup corner position.

Jamarcus King is a transfer student that played decent but the Gamecock fans expected a lot more from him. Let’s not beat around the bush, his lasting moment from the 2016 season was Mike Williams carrying him into the end zone. He can and has to play better in 2017.

Starting Safeties: D.J. Smith, Steven Montac
Backup: Jaylin Dickerson, Javon Charleston

D.J. Smith is the leading tackler from a year ago for the Gamecocks. He tallied 80 tackles and finished in the top five in the SEC in solo tackles (62).  His fellow starting safety Steven Montac tallied 39 tackles. 119 tackles between these two is the most by any returning unit.

That is great for those two, personally, but for the team it says that players are getting into the back end of the defense too easily. That’s not good for the team. These two are hard-hitting safeties and if freshman Jamyest Williams does play the nickel, they will need to be able to play the ball in the air.

Their backups Jaylin Dickerson and Javon Charleston will be better suited to help out special teams and play if needed.