3 key questions for South Carolina D-line, including Pickens and Burch outlook

Ben Breiner
·2 min read

The State is previewing the 2020 South Carolina football team by position. Today we look at the defensive line.

Key departures: Javon Kinlaw, DJ Wonnum, Kobe Smith

Projected depth chart:

Probable starters: Brad Johnson, Zacch Pickens, Keir Thomas, Aaron Sterling

Key backups: Jordan Burch, Rick Sandidge, Jabari Ellis, Kingsley Enagbare, Joseph Anderson, Rodricus Fitten, Devontae Davis

Is there a true stud in 2020?

The best defensive lines of the Will Muschamp era had high-impact players — and usually a few of them. In 2017, it was a combination of Taylor Stallworth and Javon Kinlaw inside, with D.J. Wonnum on one edge and Dante Sawyer wreaking havoc on the other. Last year, it was Kinlaw wrecking shop, with Wonnum, Aaron Sterling and Kingsley Enagbare in support. The Gamecocks have the talent, with five-stars such as Jordan Burch and Zacch Pickens, plus four-stars including Rick Sandidge and Joseph Anderson. They have a good developmental coach in Tracy Rocker, but they need that talent to deliver alongside returners like Sterling, Enagbare and Keir Thomas.

Can the Bucks produce?

Wonnum was holding down a lot in terms of production last season, especially with Brad Johnson sidelined most of the year. Now Johnson is the lead option, with an unproven Rodricus Fitten and a freshman Burch as the backups. Johnson was solid the last time he got major action (the end of 2018), but wasn’t an over-the-top producer at that point. The other three positions on the line all have some level of either depth or projectable improvement, but the Buck is a bit of a mystery until Johnson or someone else takes a step forward.

What’s the Year 1 impact of Jordan Burch?

He’s arguably the most talented player on the roster just as he steps on campus. But the high school-to-college transition is different for everyone. Jadeveon Clowney made a notable impact early, but many other first-year linemen hold modest or small roles, including all four of the blue-chip linemen the staff added in the 2018 and 2019 recruiting cycles. That said, Burch is considered very talented, and high-end talent sometimes finds a way to make its presence felt.

2020 South Carolina football schedule

Sept. 5 vs. Coastal Carolina

Sept. 12 vs. East Carolina

Sept. 19 vs. Missouri

Sept. 26 at Kentucky

Oct. 3 at Florida

Oct. 10 vs. Tennessee

Oct. 24 vs. Texas A&M

Oct. 31 at Vanderbilt

Nov. 7 Georgia

Nov. 14 at LSU

Nov. 21 vs. Wofford

Nov. 28 at Clemson