College football 2018: Top 30 breakout players to watch

T.J. Brunson might not belong on this list. Since he started every game as a sophomore last year and finished second on the team with 88 tackles, one could easily make the case that he’s already broken out.

The reason I decided to include him, though, is the same reason finished second in tackles last year — leading tackler, team captain, and All-SEC linebacker, Skai Moore.

As a senior in 2017, Moore started all 13 games for the fourth straight year and led the Gamecocks defense in stops, also for the fourth straight year. Brunson was a standout player as a sophomore but he had the benefit of playing off Moore, having an on-field coach next to him, and Brunson was never the guy offenses highlighted in going through game plans and scouting reports. With Moore now playing for the Indianapolis Colts, all of that is gone and a Brunson will be left to make up for it.

He has the size at 240 pounds mixed with speed and ability to be a factor in both the ground and passing game. He showed the playmaking ability to measure up to Moore last season and reports over the spring and summer from coaches and teammates suggest that he’s stepping up to the challenge. If he plays up to his potential and South Carolina has another strong defensive season, look for Brunson to make at least second-team All-SEC in 2018.