South Carolina's EDGE room responding with 'urgency' to slew of injuries

George Wilson‘s first game donning a South Carolina uniform was supposed to be an occasion set in a storybook.

Wilson originally committed to the Gamecocks as an edge-rushing prospect in 2020 — five years ago. He then pledged his allegiance to Florida State, where he spent the first two years of his collegiate career. Two more seasons at Campbell followed before Wilson decided to return to South Carolina for his fifth year.

But if Wilson’s college football story were a fairytale, he didn’t emerge from his carriage leaving the ball until after it had turned into a pumpkin. Head coach Shane Beamer said Tuesday that Wilson will be “out for a while” with an injury, potentially keeping Wilson out for the entirety of the upcoming season.

“We’ll see what happens this year,” Beamer said. “We’re already working to get him back in 2026, absolutely, if we’re not able to get him back in 2025.”

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Wilson’s injury is the latest in a South Carolina EDGE room that has experienced many of them in recent weeks. Before the beginning of camp, Beamer announced incoming Missouri transfer Jaylen Brown was hurt and without a concrete timetable to return. The injury bug has since hit true freshman Kobby Sakyi-Prah, who has a “lower-body injury” with a “somewhat long-term” recovery.

Despite this string of injuries, Beamer remains confident in the healthy edge rushers remaining on the Gamecocks’ roster. He added that those players have understood the urgency of the situation and striven to rise to the occasion.

“We’ve gotten hit pretty good at that one spot, which is disappointing from a depth standpoint,” Beamer said. “But [there are] a lot of guys that are competing and working to get better.”

Among those healthy players is one of the country’s best edge rushers – and players overall – in Dylan Stewart. A unanimous Freshman All-American, Stewart had an immediate impact on South Carolina’s defense in 2024. He finished second on the team in both sacks (6.5) and tackles for loss (10.5), in addition to logging four quarterback hits and three fumble recoveries. In On3’s ranking of current college football players, Stewart is listed at No. 2.

The Gamecocks have more experience in their edge room beyond Stewart. Senior Bryan Thomas Jr. could likely line up where Kyle Kennard, now with the Los Angeles Chargers in the NFL, did last year. Jatius Geer heads into the season as a redshirt senior, while Desmond Umeozulu is a junior. All three players have been a part of South Carolina’s defense for multiple years.

Add the Gamecocks’ newcomers at the position — Demon Clowney from the transfer portal, along with Jaquavious Dodd and Anthony Addison from the high-school ranks — and South Carolina has many players who can seamlessly transition into a game should their number be called.

“We’re fortunate that we at least have Dylan returning and two guys in Bryan Thomas and J.T. Geer that have played a lot of football for us and are older guys. When you talk about those three, along with Desmond, that’s four guys that are in at least their third year in this program,” Beamer said. “Then, guys coming along like Clowney and Anthony Addison, those guys just continue to work, Dodd. We have some flexibility.”

Beamer noted that it is especially important that both Dodd and Addison have been active in preseason practices. Both players were highly-touted prospects during the most recent recruiting cycle — Dodd the No. 24 edge rusher in the class of 2024, and Addison the No. 45. But the transition between high school football and the SEC is not an easy one. Because of this, taking snaps against high-caliber competition in practice will be vital for their respective development.

Beamer, though, believes Dodd and Addison have learned enough of the playbook to hold their own in competitive action this year, even if neither has played in a regular-season college football game.

“I hate being down some guys. That’s unfortunate. But those guys have really just increased the urgency that they’re doing things with, and understanding how much we need them right now, as well,” Beamer said. “[We’re] fortunate that Anthony was here during spring practice, Quay was here during spring practice. They’ve been around here long enough where they’ve got some reps and experience, just not in games.”

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