South Carolina football's top 10 all-time defensive tackles

With spring practice over for South Carolina, Gamecock fans have less than three months before their favorite team takes the field again for a game. To help bridge the gap (along with all of the recruiting coverage and summer updates you can read on GamecockCentral.com), GamecockCentral will be running a top-10 players by position series.

First, we took a look at the all-time great USC running backs.

Then, we voted on the best Carolina wide receivers in program history.

Following that up, we examined the top Gamecock tight ends.

Then, it was all about determining the top offensive linemen ever to block in Columbia.

Last week, quarterbacks were the focus.

Now, this week, we move to the other side of the ball and the defensive tackle position.

Chris Clark, Wes Mitchell, and I have put together our own top 10 lists. Many of the Gamecock Faithful on The Insiders Forum also have taken part in a two-part voting run this week.

Not every good defensive tackle could make these lists. Players like Don Summa, Zacch Pickens, Jimmy Poston, Eric Sullivan, Chuck Allen, JT Surratt, and Frank Wright were part of the conversations, despite not making the top 10s.

The results of all the voting are below, including a note on each player mentioned:

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Chris Clark

1. Andrew Provence
2. Javon Kinlaw
3. Langston Moore
4. TJ Sanders
5. John LeHeup
6. Travian Robertson
7. Kelcy Quarles
8. Roy Hart
9. Emanuel Weaver
10. Zacch Pickens

Why Andrew Provence is No. 1: “Though there have been a lot of good interior defensive linemen in Gamecock history, Andrew Provence was the best. He dominated against the run in an era when running the football was king, but he also made life miserable for opposing quarterbacks as one of the top pass rushers ever to don the Block C on their helmets.”

Wes Mitchell

1. Andrew Provence
2. Javon Kinlaw
3. Langston Moore
4. John LeHeup
5. TJ Sanders
6. Roy Hart
7. Emanuel Weaver
8. Rickey Hagood
9. Travian Robertson
10. Kelcy Quarles

Why Andrew Provence is No. 1: “Decades later, even with all the incredible pass-rushers Carolina has had, Andrew Provence is still second on the school’s all-time sack list, and he did it as a defensive tackle. Looking at the numbers, it seems the All-American was borderline unblockable. There’s a reason he is in the South Carolina Lettermen’s Hall of Fame.”

Kevin Miller

1. Andrew Provence
2. Javon Kinlaw
3. John LeHeup
4. Kelcy Quarles
5. Travian Robertson
6. Langston Moore
7. Emanuel Weaver
8. TJ Sanders
9. Roy Hart
10. Marty Dye

Why Andrew Provence is No. 1: “Andrew Provence was a beast. From his defensive tackle position, he led the Gamecocks in tackles twice and set the school’s then-record for sacks. That’s not normal. There have been a lot of good interior defensive linemen in Gamecock history, but Provence stands atop them all.”

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Votes in parentheses

1. Javon Kinlaw (52)
2. Travian Robertson (50)
3. Andrew Provence (43)
4. TJ Sanders (35)
5. Kelcy Quarles (33)
6. Byron Jerideau (25)
T-7. Tonka Hemingway (24)
T-7. Cleveland Pinkney (24)
9. Ladi Ajiboye (23)
10. Taylor Stallworth (20)

Notes on the Gamecock Greats

Andrew Provence: Andrew Provence was a two-time All-American for South Carolina, leading a team with a loaded linebacker room in tackles in back-to-back seasons. Regardless of position, he ranks second in team history in tackles and sacks and third in tackles for loss. He was a great leader, too, something that has aided his post-playing career as a chaplain. Provence was an easy selection to the South Carolina Lettermen’s Hall of Fame.

Javon Kinlaw: A former junior college product, Javon Kinlaw took an additional year to develop with the Gamecocks before becoming an utterly dominant force in garnet and black. His final two years in Columbia earned him postseason recognition, including first-team All-American honors as a senior. In South Carolina’s road upset of the No. 3 Georgia Bulldogs (UGA’s last home loss), Kinlaw had the most dominant four-tackle performance in team history, helping force quarterback Jake Fromm into a terrible day and giving his team an opportunity to win.

Langston Moore: Known almost as much now for his off-field contributions (he’s an accomplished children’s author, a former sideline reporter, and a well-known media presence in Columbia), Langston Moore was a stud for Lou Holtz’s Gamecocks. Thought by some to be destined for life as an offensive lineman, Moore’s transition to defense proved to be a good move. He finished his USC career with an All-American selection in 2002 before spending a decade in the NFL.

John LeHeup: John LeHeup isn’t known by as many modern South Carolina fans because of the era in which he played. The big fella was a three-year starter in a time when freshmen weren’t allowed to be on the team and made the All-ACC team three times and the All-American squad as a senior. Head coach Paul Dietzel called him “the best defensive tackle I have ever coached.” That is high praise from a coach who won a national title at LSU and personally coached both lines of scrimmage throughout his career. LeHeup became a minister following his playing days.

Kelcy Quarles: Greenwood, South Carolina native Kelcy Quarles didn’t always get the credit he deserved because he played alongside other all-time greats like Jadeveon Clowney and Melvin Ingram. However, the big tackle was a really good player who earned a pair of All-SEC honors and one All-American recognition before leaving early for the NFL. With two sacks and three other tackles for loss, he was the unsung defensive star (opposite of Connor Shaw and Bruce Ellington on offense) of USC’s come-from-behind victory at Missouri in 2013.

Travian Robertson: Travian Robertson picked South Carolina over Clemson as a 4-star high school recruit, immediately endearing him to Gamecock fans. His first few years on campus showed flashes of future brilliance, but as a redshirt junior and senior, he put it all together. Despite sharing the field (and the snaps) with four or five star defensive linemen, Robertson logged 18 tackles for loss in his final two seasons and was a constant source of disruption, push inside, and outspoken leadership. He is now the program’s defensive tackles coach.

Emanuel Weaver: Following a junior college All-American career as a defensive end, Emanuel Weaver earned All-American honors at the Division-I level as a senior nose tackle with the Gamecocks. He battled through some injuries, but Weaver was an imposing presence in the middle of the defense. He set a school record for forced fumbles in 1981.

TJ Sanders: TJ Sanders wasn’t a football player for much of his life, instead, preferring to play basketball. However, he gave the sport a shot, and things couldn’t have gone much better for him. A two-time All-SEC selection, Sanders was a dynamic and versatile defensive lineman who played multiple roles for the Gamecocks without complaint. He earned selection in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft.

Roy Hart: They don’t come much more intimidating than Roy Hart. The nose tackle on the 1987 “Black Death” defense, Hart was tough as nails. He battled injuries early in his career but was a force when healthy as a junior and senior. All-American honors came his way in ’87, and he finished his career in the top 10 in program history in tackles for loss. He eventually became one of the best players in the short-lived World League of American Football.

Marty Dye: Marty Dye was the older brother of All-American offensive lineman Ernest Dye and did his part to ensure the Dye brothers are part of the conversation when discussing the best brotherly duos in team history. The elder Dye was very athletic and played every spot on the defensive line for USC. He earned an All-South Independent selection and posted 300 career tackles.

Rickey Hagood: The running mate to the legendary Andrew Provence, Rickey Hagood was a good player in his own right. Playing most of his snaps over center, he was adept at getting push up front. Hagood collapsed the pocket in passing situations and crushed running lanes before they developed. When Provence graduated, Hagood turned in an All-South Indepent campaign in 1983 in which he was also named Team MVP.

Zacch Pickens: Zacch Pickens picked South Carolina from right out of the rival Clemson Tigers’ backyard. He then finished his career as a Gamecock with a sack in a Palmetto Bowl win. Pickens was a solid player for years before turning it on and becoming an All-SEC senior. A special blend of athleticism and raw size, Pickens became an easy choice for NFL Draft selection. He is still in the league with the Chicago Bears.

Cleveland Pinkney: A two-year player for Carolina following a stint in junior college, Cleveland Pinkney was one of several really good defensive tackles to play for defensive coordinator Charlie Strong. “Big Cleve” was adept at clogging space but was athletic enough to make a play in the backfield when the opportunity arose. He was an All-SEC performer for the then-record-breaking turnaround season in 2000.

Byron Jerideau: Byron Jerideau is the strongest human being ever to come through the South Carolina football program. The big fella commanded a double team with his combination of size and strength, freeing up a lot of one-on-one opportunities for other talented linemen like Jadeveon Clowney, Kelcy Quarles, Melvin Ingram, and Devin Taylor. His numbers weren’t eye-popping, but he made an impact. Unsurprisingly, Jerideau is a strength coach and spent seven years working at his alma mater.

Tonka Hemingway: One of the top athletes at the defensive tackle position in recent memory, Tonka Hemingway was as fun to watch as his name was to say. Getting reps all over the defensive line, Hemingway posted solid numbers as a Gamecock but was much better than his box score line might indicate. Understanding this, voters put him on All-SEC teams three years in a row. The Palmetto State native also helped out on some gadget plays near the goal line and on special teams. The Las Vegas Raiders picked him in the 4th round of the 2025 NFL Draft.

Ladi Ajiboye: Ladi Ajiboye was supremely talented. The athletic defensive tackle played on a really good defensive line unit and still did enough to stand out at times. Ajiboye’s efforts earned him Freshman All-American honors in 2007 and an All-SEC selection in 2010. He was a key contributor on the 2010 SEC East Championship team.

Taylor Stallworth: The epitome of a “do your job” player, Taylor Stallworth was known for being team-first player in Columbia. He didn’t put up gaudy stats or post jaw-dropping athletic testing numbers, but Stallworth was a big reason why linebackers like Skai Moore, TJ Brunson, and Bryson Allen-Williams registered a lot of tackles for the Carolina defense. He has been in the NFL since 2018 but signed a spring contract with the UFL’s Michigan Panthers.

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