Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
With the sophomore linebacker getting some action with the second team, it begs the question.
It’s not because he changed his name, is it?
Jalen Dread
Sophomore
Lineback
5-10 / 220
Foley, AL
Recruitment
A three-star linebacker for 2015, the Foley native didn’t get the kind of attention from SEC schools you’d expect for a Alabaman, which may have stemmed from a season ending ankle injury his junior year. Other than South Carolina, the only other serious attention came from Southern Miss.
That said, per 247Sports, he was the 35th best player in the state for his class.
College Career
The majority of Dread’s freshman season was spent on special teams, where he logged 10 appearances.
However, all signs point the sophomore has one of the harder work ethics on and off the field after earning All-SEC Academic Honors as well as being awarded as the most improved freshman on the Gamecocks defense last season.
Hopefully that gets rewarded with playing in the upcoming season.
2016 Outlook
Not much as been said, written, and for that matter, read about Dread this off-season, but that doesn’t mean he won’t produce for one of the Gamecocks strongest units in 2016. As of yesterday, he got some reps with the second team defense at linebacker during the first public practice of Fall Camp.
With that, could the sophomore be on the rise?