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USC linebacker Eric Gentry (18) celebrates with teammate Marcelles Williams and defensive end coach Shaun Nua after the Trojans’ win over LSU at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
Ever since spring, when the foundation of USC’s new defense first was built, Eric Gentry hadn’t made much effort to hide how happy he was with the overhaul. He was thrilled with the new scheme, which seemed to fit his unusual skillset as a 6-foot-6 linebacker, and thrilled with the new coaches, who actually seemed to understand him.
It didn’t take long during Sunday’s 27-20 win over LSU to see exactly why the gangly senior linebacker has been in such a good mood.
Read more: D’Anton Lynn unlocking USC’s defensive potential where others failed
Few defenders had a bigger impact on a play-by-play basis in USC’s season-opener than Gentry, who played just 29 of 64 snaps on defense, but still wrangled seven tackles, including one in the fourth quarter that saw him sprint off the edge on third-and-one and stop a critical LSU drive dead in its tracks.
“About time that the world is able to see what Eric Gentry is all about,” defensive end Jamil Muhammad said. “We all knew that he’s a baller. He’s always been a baller. It’s just about that luck piece. He’s been preparing. He’s been a warrior.”
It doesn’t hurt, either, that in defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn, Gentry has found a coach determined to use his full complement of skills. Against LSU, Gentry lined up all over the defense, spending 15 snaps in the box at linebacker, 10 on the edge as a rusher and four more in the slot.
That was the sort of role Gentry played as a standout high school pass rusher in Philadelphia, where his coach was so convinced of his talent that he assured in 2022 that Gentry “could potentially change the game.” So when he first transferred to USC, Gentry expected to occupy a similar role.
Read more: Hernández: USC finally has a defense under Lincoln Riley….
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/hes-baller-revamped-usc-defense-110030715.html
Author : LA Times
Publish date : 2024-09-05 11:00:30
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