Sudden impact

COLUMBIA -- Despite some pretty obvious hurdles, South Carolina has the 17th-ranked defense in the country.

Youth has been a prevalent thing with the group, including a couple of in-state freshmen who have made immediate impacts.

Would the Gamecocks be in the top 20 if not for cornerback Stephon Gilmore and safety DeVonte Holloman, teammates at Rock Hill's South Pointe High and now at USC?

"There ain't no way," Gamecocks defensive head coach Ellis Johnson said last week. "You can look at the guys we've played as substitutes for them, and you can see the level of play has been different.

"Would we have won as many games? I don't know. But there's no question about it; they've made a huge difference."

Here's the intriguing thing, as far as this week is concerned: A little more than a year ago, both Gamecocks standouts were Clemson commitments.

Circumstances, including Tommy Bowden's ouster, led to the changes of heart.

No. 18 Clemson (8-3) plays at South Carolina (6-5) on Saturday (noon, ESPN).

"It'll be kind of weird," said Holloman, who committed to the Tigers in 10th grade. "But once the game kicks off, all that goes out the window. We've got to win this one."

Deciding on a school so early, Holloman said he "fell in love" with the wrong coaches. He really liked Billy Napier, an offensive assistant for the Tigers who was elevated this year to coordinator.

"When I finally got to know the people I was really going to be dealing with," Holloman said, "I figured I didn't make the right decision. I opened it back up."

Bowden's mid-season departure accelerated the process.

"I was thinking about it, but that really put the icing on the cake," Holloman said. "He was a big reason why (I was going there)."

Defensive coordinator Vic Koenning was also shown the door.

"I don't think they had a defensive coordinator at the time," Holloman said.

It's worth noting that when he was a Clemson commitment, Holloman was a loyal dude. Once, when he was in Columbia for a high school-related photo opportunity, Gilmore's dad took the players over to see Johnson.

Holloman refused even to go inside USC's facilities.

"I said, 'You're welcome to come inside,'" Johnson said. "It was about 108 degrees outside."

As the weather cooled, though, so did Holloman on Clemson. One day, Johnson was told that Holloman wanted to play in the SEC.

He asked if South Carolina was among the options. He was told yes.

USC eventually became the option.

Enrolling in January, along with Gilmore, Holloman picked things up pretty well. Well enough that he's started two games at boundary safety, which is considered one of the more challenging positions to play in USC's 4-2-5 alignment.

The 6-2, 211-pounder might only have 24 total tackles, but he's been in at some crucially important times for the Gamecocks. He's played in all 11 games.

Gilmore's been even better.

His 48 tackles are fifth on the team. The 6-1, 188-pound Gilmore also has two sacks and a fumble recovery. He has the only interception by a USC defensive back that wasn't immediately fumbled back to the other team.

This week against the Tigers, he'll start his 12th game in as many times out.

"He can be really, really special. I don't know how to put it in words. The kid has something a lot of kids don't have, with his focus and his intensity and his maturity level and his competitiveness," Johnson said. "There are a lot of kids signed last year that have his talent level. Not a whole lot, but a lot. But the kid is just different in his mental makeup."

Example? Johnson said he'll get beat and then make a game-changing play two or three snaps later. That's veteran confidence.

"That's hard for a kid that age to do," Johnson said. "He's done some things this year, like a 21-, 22-year-old would do."

He's also the team's punt returner. Head coach Steve Spurrier said a couple of weeks ago that he'd vote for Gilmore for SEC freshman of the year.

"I think I progressed pretty well through the season," Gilmore said. "I feel like I've learned a lot."

When Johnson was hired in January 2008, he immediately made a point to get in touch with Gilmore. He was the only player of note, Johnson said, in his in-state recruiting area.

"He was very open, and I got no feeling he was tied to Clemson," Johnson said. "At no point in my recruiting is that who I felt like I had to beat."

Actually, Johnson said he felt like he was more up against Alabama and, to a lesser degree, Tennessee for Gilmore.

He wanted to stay home, and he did.

In January, Johnson and the Gamecocks spoke highly of both Gilmore and Holloman.

In November, you can say they've lived up to that talk.

"Does it surprise me? No," Johnson said. "But do I take it for granted? No."

Reach Travis Haney at thaney@postandcourier.com. and check out the South Carolina blog at www.postandcourier.com/blogs/gamecocks.