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After myriad position switches, Bryson Allen-Williams aims to settle in
By Keith Farner
Published:
There are few players across the country who have experienced the seemingly constant position switches that Bryson Allen-Williams has.
Allen-Williams was a sought-after prospect out of Cedar Grove High School in Georgia as part of the 2014 recruiting class. Allen-Williams drew interest from Alabama, Georgia, UCLA because he could cover like a safety but also support the run.
But once he arrived in Columbia, Allen-Williams has been on the move, from where he lines up to how many are in front of him on the depth chart.
He began at BOB linebacker in a 3-4 alignment. But when the Gamecocks struggled to generate a pass rush in 2014 — ultimately just 14 sacks in 13 games — he was moved to defensive end. He began the 2015 spring at weakside linebacker, but by September was at middle linebacker because of more lack of production.
Yet regardless of where Allen-Williams lands, he’s made it on the field.
In 2014, he and Al Harris Jr. became the first true freshmen to start a season opener since 2011. In 2014, he played in 12 games; last year he was in every game. But with three starts, Allen-Williams is still looking to find a home as a difference-maker. In the past two seasons, he has 50 tackles, six for a loss and one interception. But last season’s 23 tackles was just 15th on the team.
Allen Williams, 6-0, 230 pounds, began this spring as the starting weakside linebacker, and enters fall as atop the depth charter at strongside linebacker.
He has said coaches told him to learn all the linebacker positions. Exiting spring practice, Allen-Williams was named the team’s Jim Carlen Special Teams Player of the Spring. All that begs the question if the highest rated recruit from the team’s 2014 class and former U.S. Army All-American will live up to expectations.
“I am really excited for this season to go out and show everybody why I was so highly touted when I came in,” he told The State. “It’s very important to me to go out here and show everybody and prove to myself that I can really do this.”
And that. And that, too. If Allen-Williams has learned anything, it’s this: Where he lines up in September might not be where he ends up.
“They are looking at me at several linebacker spots,” Allen-Williams told The State. “They tell us to learn all of them. The more you can do, the more you’re going to be able to get on the field. … I am doing what I am supposed to do on and off the field, and I just have to go out and prove it during the season.”
A former newspaper veteran, Keith Farner is a news manager for Saturday Down South.
