By Anthony Richards
SouthernPigskin.com

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Clowney has lived up to his hype coming out of high school, after being rated as the unanimous top player in the class of 2011. He presents the Gamecocks with a dynamic force off the edge and at 6-6 and 274 pounds, utilizes a perfect combination of size and speed.

The immediate future of South Carolina is led by the talent along the defensive line, something that Gamecock fans have become accustomed to over the last three years.
The Gamecocks have averaged 38 sacks and 93 tackles for a loss the last three seasons and led the SEC in sacks in both 2010 and 2012.
The defense is led by returning first-team All-American Jadeveon Clowney, who finished second in the SEC with 13 sacks a year ago. 
Clowney has lived up to his hype coming out of high school, after being rated as the unanimous top player in the class of 2011.  He presents the Gamecocks with a dynamic force off the edge and at 6-6 and 274 pounds, utilizes a perfect combination of size and speed.
After finishing sixth in the 2012 Heisman voting and becoming the only other Gamecock besides George Rogers in 1980 to be named a unanimous All-American selection, a huge junior season is expected by media and fans.
However, Clowney is not the only option that South Carolina has along the defensive line.  Opposite Clowney at the other defensive end position is senior Chaz Sutton, who gains a starting spot with the departure of Devin Taylor and finished second on the team with five sacks in 2012.
Sutton offers an experienced compliment to Clowney and prevents opposing teams from creating their game plan entirely around limiting Clowney.  Spurrier understands the experience that he brings and the option that he gives their defense moving forward.
“He’ll have a lot of one on one battles with Clowney occupying the other side,” Spurrier said.
The middle of the Gamecocks line is junior Kelcy Quarles, who is back for his second season as one of South Carolina’s starting tackles.
Quarles fits the mold of a defensive tackle at 6-4 and 298 pounds with the added quickness to not only be disruptive against the run but also the pass.
J.T. Surratt completes the defensive line and at 6-2 and 311 pounds, gives the Gamecocks the traditional run-stopper that is needed against the mammoth offensive lines of the SEC.
Every one of South Carolina’s starting defensive lineman are upperclassmen and provide the exact amount of experience and talented needed to give Gamecock fans their elusive title.
It seems that Spurrier is more known for producing some of the nation’s best defenses of late, a change from his historic background as an offensive guru.  However, if defense is the key to leading South Carolina to its first SEC title, then call Spurrier a defensive genius.