Clayton White has been the defensive coordinator at South Carolina throughout Shane Beamer’s tenure as head coach. White, who played linebacker at NC State from 1997-2000, came to Columbia from Western Kentucky, where he was also the defensive coordinator. Little was known about White when Beamer initially hired him. His coaching background is not extensive, but he spent time at several schools, including his alma mater, coaching different position groups and special teams. What Gamecock fans did not know in 2021 was hiring little-known names is Beamer’s M.O. Numerous assistants have been hired since the initial staff, which included White, was hired, and the lesser-known guys far outweigh the names that have topped message board wish lists. White has had an up-and-down tenure as the Gamecocks’ DC.
White proved to be a smart hire during his first season with the Gamecocks. South Carolina’s defense ranked 11th nationally in takeaways, and the roster over-performed based on preseason expectations. 2022 brought more overachieving as a team. However, elevated play on special teams helped hide the weaknesses that were exhibited by the defense. Red zone defense proved to be a strength as well. Although teams moved the ball against the Gamecocks better than Carolina’s offense, the team pulled out an 8-5 record with some unexpected victories. Then, in 2023, weaknesses were exposed. With a major shift to end the 2023 season, the upcoming season is a make-or-break test of Carolina’s DC. Expectations for White and the Gamecocks’ defense are season-altering. With a new cast on offense, the defense needs to carry this team in 2024.
Base Scheme
The story of the Gamecock defense in 2023 is simple: inconsistent. Special teams’ scoring was reduced from the previous year. Injuries hampered offensive production. So, the pressure fell on the defense to keep opposing offenses at bay. In 2022, South Carolina’s offense averaged 32.2 points per game, and the defense gave up 28.8 points per game.
In contrast, the defense only allowed 26.3 PPG in 2023, but the offense managed only 26 PPG. Although the defense improved from one year to the next, they gave up 30 or more points in six of the first eight games in 2023. That was the breaking point. South Carolina lost close games in a shootout fashion because the defense could not get stops.
The end of White’s time as the Gamecocks’ DC looked imminent. Fans had completely embraced the fact that a change was coming. However, in the season’s final four games, White made a shift that changed the narrative. His traditional base defense is a 4-2-5. This means four down linemen, two linebackers, and five defensive backs. In those final four games, White changed the base defense to a 3-3-5, and the defense allowed an average of 16 PPG. Although fans lament that Beamer often hires unknown assistants, the advantage is that opposing coaches don’t know their tendencies. After serving as the DC for the Gamecocks for several years, other teams had plenty of film on White’s style. It was time to make a change, and he should be applauded for shifting his core scheme to fit the personnel and throw off opponents.
Turnovers
One of the clear differentiating factors between White’s first two seasons in Columbia and the 2023 defense was the number of turnovers. The Gamecocks took the ball away from opponents 17 times in 2023. However, in 2022, they amassed 23 turnovers and 25 in 2021. Heading into the final four games of 2023, when White switched to a 3-3-5, the Gamecocks only had seven of their eventual 17 turnovers. Turnovers play a major role in White’s defense’s ability to limit opponents’ scoring. This indicates that his defenses are not proven to make stops routinely, the old-fashioned way, by forcing punts. The Gamecocks have relied on turnovers, which can partially be forced with skill but also require a fair amount of luck, to get off the field on defense. White will need the ball to bounce his way in 2024 to see a return to 20+ turnover territory.
Where Do We Go From Here
The Gamecocks are in wait-and-see mode regarding White’s legacy as the DC. He needs a strong showing in 2024 to be extended beyond his current deal, which ends on December 31, 2024. He has the roster working in his favor at this point. The team’s leading tackler, Debo Williams, returns at the linebacker spot. The Gamecocks also retained linebackers Bam Martin-Scott and Jaron Willis, who provided a ton of speed to the 3-3-5 in 2023. The top three interior defensive linemen are back, and five-star prospect Dylan Stewart is in to boost the edge. Three safeties who all earned freshman All-American honors hold down the back end. Therefore, White’s defense should have a banner year.
If the defense lives up to its potential and cracks the top 50 nationally in total defense, fans can expect the Gamecocks to play spoiler in a couple of high-profile matchups. However, the schedule brings high-octane offenses like Ole Miss and LSU to town, so White has his work cut out. With a young offense figuring out how to play and win at this level, the defense could get exposed if they are not ready to play from day one. At the end of the day, success or failure falls on the coordinator. White’s ability to monitor and adjust quickly from his DC position is the biggest key to the Gamecocks winning games in 2024.
