South Carolina's defense ranked highly in forcing turnovers during the 2024 season. As the team enters 2025, they look to continue doing so.
South Carolina ranked inside the top 30 nationally in interceptions during the 2024 season. Additionally, the Gamecocks ranked in the top 25 in fumble recoveries and top 20 in pick-sixes.
Among its fellow SEC members, South Carolina ranked fourth in interceptions, seventh in fumble recoveries and third in defensive touchdowns.
Forcing turnovers is a point of emphasis for the defensive side of the Gamecocks’ locker room. All positions look to continue that success into 2025.
“It’s on our mind every single day,” safety David Bucey said. “Every practice we’re working on punching it out.”
South Carolina forced four or more fumbles in four games during the 2024 season, recovering five of the 18 forced fumbles. In those games, the Gamecocks won by an average of almost 20 points; the only game won by less than 24 points came in the season opener against Old Dominion.
“The ball is ours, so we’re trying to get it back at all points,” defensive tackle Gabriel Brownlow-Dindy said. “That comes with seeing the running back, the arm, striking at it, trying to get the ball constantly, trying to do jump balls. The ball is ours, so we got to have that mindset we’re trying to get it back.”
When it comes to forcing the turnovers that get “their” ball back, players need a lot of discipline, linebacker Shawn Murphy said.
“Just repetition and communication,” Murphy explained. “… Just working (on) our fundamentals and just trying to get the ball out. Doing it over, and over and over again.”
Linebacker JayR Johnson reiterated Murphy and Dindy’s point of punching the ball out.
“Obviously, you want to get a pick and stuff, but those things help us,” Johnson said.
On the back end of the defense, South Carolina’s defensive backs and safeties plan to “get to the ball on every trip,” defensive back Jalon Kilgore said. Kilgore recorded a career-high five interceptions during his sophomore campaign with the Gamecocks.
“I feel like we’ve got a lot of good guys that’s willing to go forward towards the ball. We got a good defensive line that’s going to fight towards the ball,” Kilgore said. “… Backup defensive backs that are lockdown. So, just putting guys in, if we happen to have someone to go out and a backup has to come in, it’s going to be no let-up.”
Being in the right spot and the right fit helps those forced turnovers come easier, defensive back Peyton Williams said.
“Coach (Clayton) White always says it. Turnovers come in bunches,” Williams said. “…The turnovers are going to come, so just making sure you’re doing your job, it’s going to come to you.”
Defensive back Brandon Cisse also mentioned the Gamecocks’ depth on defense as a strong factor in South Carolina continuing to dominate in the turnover game.
“We do turnover circuit a lot,” Cisse said. “It’s just about getting the ball back. Those kinds of plays change games, change momentum, so that’s something we look forward to every time we go out there.”
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Category: General Sports
