Clayton White Nominated for 2024 Broyles Award

University of South Carolina defensive coordinator/inside linebackers coach Clayton White has been nominated for the Broyles Award which recognizes the college football’s top assistant coach, the Frank and Barbara Broyles Foundation announced today.

White, who is in his fourth year as South Carolina’s defensive coordinator, uses a “Flex-Nickel” defense, which allows the Gamecocks to mix a four-man and a three-man front, with five defensive backs on the field. White brought back eight returning starters, led by all-SEC linebacker Debo Williams, a trio of defensive tackles in Alex Huntley, Tonka Hemingway and T.J. Sanders, and safety Nick Emmanwori. He added a pair of Edge rushers in Kyle Kennard, who is having an All-America season, and Dylan Stewart, who is a candidate for National Freshman of the Year. With depth at all three levels, White has built this defense into the best in Columbia in years.

The Gamecocks rank among the nation’s top-20 in nearly every defensive statistical category including scoring defense (14th), rush defense (12th), pass efficiency defense (19th), total defense (13th), turnovers gained (14th), sacks (3rd) tackles for loss (12th), opponents third down pct (17th) and opponents fourth down pct. (7th).

The 65 nominees in this year’s class were selected from approximately 1,500 assistant coaches representing 131 FBS programs across the country. The Broyles Award selection process includes the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA), broadcasters, a college football hall-of-fame selection committee, and current college head coaches.

A selection committee of distinguished former head coaches, broadcasters and a committee representing the FWAA will select 15 semi-finalists, five finalists from the list of nominees, and an overall winner.