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Clayton White

  • position Defensive Coordinator/LBs
  • position Defensive Coordinator/LBs

Clayton White

Five-time Frank Broyles Award nominee (2017, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2024) including a semifinalist in 2024, and 23-year coaching veteran, Clayton White is in his sixth season in Columbia. He was named the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach in 2021.

White’s defenses have forced 110 turnovers, the highest total in the SEC and tying for the sixth-highest mark in the country during his five-year run in Columbia.

In 2025, the Gamecocks allowed 22.1 points per game. Subtracting the 24 points scored when the defense was not on the field, the number dips to 20.1 points and a top-30 ranking. Despite losing five players in the NFL Draft, they finished in the top half of the country in rushing defense, passing defense, and total yards allowed. They forced 22 turnovers, tops in the SEC and 13th in the FBS in the regular season, returning four for scores. Carolina gave up TDs on 20 of 43 chances in the redzone, its best performance since 2012. Jalon Kilgore, Dylan Stewart and Bryan Thomas Jr. earned All-SEC honors.

In 2024, Carolina ranked among the nation’s top-25 in nearly every defensive statistical category including scoring defense (12th), rush defense (18th), pass efficiency defense (21st), total defense (16th), turnovers gained (16th), sacks (6th), forced fumbles (1st), fumbles recovered (19th), and opponents fourth down pct. (1st). Kyle Kennard was the first Gamecock to earn the Bronko Nagurski Award as the nation’s top defensive player and was selected as the SEC’s Defensive Player of the Year. Kennard and Nick Emmanwori earned All-America honors. In addition, Dylan Stewart was a True Freshman All-American and a finalist for the Shaun Alexander National Freshman of the Year Award.

In 2023, the Gamecock defense surrendered 149.4 rushing yards per game, the fewest since 2017 and the second-fewest since 2012. Opponents rushed for just 3.88 yards per carry, the best mark since 2012. The Gamecocks posted the SEC’s second-best redzone defense and forced 17 turnovers in 12 games. Debo Williams was a first-team All-SEC selection, while Jalon Kilgore earned Freshman All-America accolades.

In 2022, the Gamecocks ranked 27th in the country in pass efficiency defense and 34th in passing defense, allowing 206.7 yards per game. They forced 23 turnovers, ranking second in the SEC and 20th in the nation. Their 15 picks ranked first in the league and 14th in the nation. The defense scored twice, both on pick-sixes in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl versus Notre Dame. Nick Emmanwori earned Freshman All-America honors.

In his first season in Columbia, the Carolina defense allowed 24.0 points per game, an improvement of 12.0 points, with six of its opponents scoring 17 or less. The Gamecocks forced 24 turnovers, first in the SEC and tied for 14th in the country. Their 15 interceptions tied for second in the SEC and 14th in the country. Nine fumble recoveries tied for the SEC lead and for 25th in the nation. The defense scored four times, tying for the SEC lead and for seventh in the nation. Carolina surrendered 180.8 yards per game through the air, the fewest since 2011, ranking atop the SEC and seventh in the nation. Jaylan Foster earned All-America honors.

White spent the prior four seasons as the defensive coordinator and cornerbacks coach at Western Kentucky University.

In 2020, the Hilltoppers ranked 28th in total defense, including eighth in the nation in passing defense, allowing just 177.3 yards per game though the air. WKU was third in the nation with 68 passes defended and the defense scored three touchdowns.

In 2019, WKU produced a top-25 overall defense, allowing 20.1 points per game, the lowest mark for the program since 2004. DeAngelo Malone was the CUSA Defensive Player of the Year after collecting 99 tackles including 21 TFLs, 11.5 sacks and 16 hurries.

In 2018, WKU allowed just a 103.41 passer rating in the redzone, good for the sixth-best mark nationally. Even better, the Hilltoppers allowed opposing quarterbacks to complete passes in the redzone at just a 32.7 percent clip, the best mark in the nation.

During White’s first campaign as the defensive playcaller in 2017, the Hilltoppers held opponents to their fewest point totals through the season’s first seven games in 15 years and a record over that span in the FBS era. The Hilltoppers ranked 40th nationally in pass defense – an improvement of 79 spots from 2016.

Prior to his arrival in Bowling Green, White spent four seasons as the co-Special Teams Coordinator/Safeties Coach at NC State (2013-16). The Wolfpack ranked in the top-30 in total defense in both 2015 and ‘16. In 2015, NC State was one of only two schools in the FBS to finish in the Top 20 in both kickoff return and punt return. Dontae Johnson was selected in the fourth round of the 2014 NFL Draft.

White served as the Special Teams Coordinator/Running Backs Coach at UConn from 2011-12. The Huskies tied for the national lead with three punt returns for TDs and led the Big East with a 12.5 punt return average. Lyle McCombs was a Freshman All-American after becoming just the second Husky to rush for 1,000 yards in his freshman season.

White spent one season (2010) as the Co-Special Teams Coordinator and Defensive Backs Coach at Western Kentucky, helping WKU transition from FCS to FBS.

White had a three-year stint at Stanford (2007-09) where he coached the defensive backs, including future NFL Pro Bowler Richard Sherman. The Cardinal rose to No. 14 in the polls in 2009 and reached a bowl game for the first time since 2001.

White’s first coaching stop came as a defensive backs coach at Sanderson (N.C.) High in 2003. He also had stints at Western Carolina and Western Michigan.

A 2001 graduate with a degree in sport management, White played linebacker at NC State  from 1997-2000. He ended his career in the Wolfpack record book in career tackles for loss (33), single-season tackles for loss (16) and tackles in a single game (23). He had a three-year NFL career with the New York Giants (2001-02) and Tampa Bay (2003).

White, a native of Dunn, N.C., and his wife Kelly have two children, Chase and Macy.

News

  • University of South Carolina Athletics
    Football  . 

    Videos: Wednesday Football Media Availability 11/12/25

    South Carolina Defensive Coordinator Clayton White and Special Teams Coordinator Joe DeCamillis met with the media following Wednesday's practice as the Gamecocks prepare for Saturday's road trip to face No. 3 Texas A&M

  • University of South Carolina Athletics
    Football  . 

    Videos: Wednesday Football Media Availability 10/29/25

    South Carolina Offensive Coordinator Mike Shula, Defensive Coordinator Clayton White and Special Teams Coordinator Joe DeCamillis met with the media following Wednesday's practice as the Gamecocks prepare for Saturday's road trip to face No. 7 Ole Miss

  • University of South Carolina Athletics
    Football  . 

    Videos: Wednesday Football Media Availability 10/22/25

    South Carolina Offensive Coordinator Mike Shula, Defensive Coordinator Clayton White and Special Teams Coordinator Joe DeCamillis will meet with the media following Wednesday's practice as the Gamecocks prepare for Saturday's home matchup with No. 4 Alabama

  • University of South Carolina Athletics
    Football  . 

    Videos: Wednesday Football Media Availability 10/15/25

    South Carolina Offensive Coordinator Mike Shula, Defensive Coordinator Clayton White and Special Teams Coordinator Joe DeCamillis will meet with the media following Wednesday's practice as the Gamecocks prepare for Saturday's home matchup with No. 14 Oklahoma

  • University of South Carolina Athletics
    Football  . 

    Videos: Wednesday Football Media Availability 10/08/25

    South Carolina Offensive Coordinator Mike Shula, Defensive Coordinator Clayton White and Special Teams Coordinator Joe DeCamillis met with the media following Wednesday's practice as the Gamecocks prepare for Saturday's road matchup with No. 11 LSU

  • University of South Carolina Athletics
    Football  . 

    Videos: Wednesday Football Media Availability 09/24/25

    South Carolina Offensive Coordinator Mike Shula, Defensive Coordinator Clayton White and Special Teams Coordinator Joe DeCamillis met with the media following Wednesday's practice as the Gamecocks prepare to host Kentucky on Saturday Night

  • University of South Carolina Athletics
    Football  . 

    Videos: Wednesday Football Media Availability 09/17/25

    South Carolina Offensive Coordinator Mike Shula, Defensive Coordinator Clayton White and Special Teams Coordinator Joe DeCamillis met with the media following Wednesday's practice, as the Gamecocks prepare for Saturday's road trip to face #23 Missouri

  • University of South Carolina Athletics
    Football  . 

    Videos: Wednesday Football Media Availability 09/10/25

    South Carolina Offensive Coordinator Mike Shula, Defensive Coordinator Clayton White and Special Teams Coordinator Joe DeCamillis met with the media following Wednesday's practice, as the 11th ranked Gamecocks prepare for Saturday's home matchup with Vanderbilt

  • University of South Carolina Athletics
    Football  . 

    Videos: Wednesday Football Media Availability 09/03/25

    South Carolina Offensive Coordinator Mike Shula, Defensive Coordinator Clayton White and Special Teams Coordinator Joe DeCamillis met with the media following Wednesday's practice, as the 10th ranked Gamecocks prepare for Saturday's home opener against South Carolina State

  • University of South Carolina Athletics
    Football  . 

    Videos: Thursday Football Media Availability 08/28/25

    South Carolina Offensive Coordinator Mike Shula, Defensive Coordinator Clayton White and Special Teams Coordinator Joe DeCamillis met with members of the media following Thursday's practice

  • Shane Beamer Media Day 2022
    Football  . 

    Gamecocks Hold Football Media Day

Videos