Offensive line play was a source of struggle for the South Carolina football team during the 2023 season.
The Gamecocks allowed 41 sacks last season, nine of which came in the team’s season opener against North Carolina on Sept. 2. South Carolina also had six offensive line season-ending injuries, which prevented it from developing chemistry as the unit’s rotations were shifted each week.
The Gamecocks’ lack of consistency also affected the team’s ground game,resulting in it finishing at the bottom of the SEC in rushing yards per game. South Carolina averaged 85.1 rushing yards per game in 2023, which was at least 10 yards fewer than the second-least productive rushing offense in the conference. The team also averaged just 2.8 yards per carry.
These struggles, along with the addition of new transfer players and freshman to the roster during the offseason, has made South Carolina’s offensive line a topic of discussion throughout the preseason.
But Beamer and Gamecock players said they are confident the team’s offensive line play will improve during the 2024 season.
South Carolina’s offensive line is set to feature a mixture of veterans and newcomers this upcoming year. Sixth-year Jakai Moore and redshirt senior Vershon Lee are expected to provide experience to the unit, and sophomores Tree Babalade and Trovon Baugh head into the year having already played multiple games against SEC competition.
The Gamecocks will also see a number of new faces in the position group, including three transfers — sixth-year Kamaar Bell (who transferred from Florida Atlantic) and redshirt seniors Torricelli Simpkins III (North Carolina Central) and Aaryn Parks (Oklahoma). Freshmen Josiah Thompson and Kam Pringle could also make their college football debuts this year.
“It’s completely different this time last year compared to the first series of the North Carolina game last year,” offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains said during a press conference on Aug. 21.
Injury prevention was a focal point of South Carolina’s offseason preparations, Loggains said. The team changed some of the ways the players stretched, lifted and practiced. The strides made in that area stem from the team’s core values, he said.
“I think that the overall philosophy of the program has helped because we have been able to stay healthy,” Loggains said. “There have been a lot of changes that way, from the way coach Beamer has run the schedules to the way the strength staff does things.”
The offensive line group focused on being a close knit group, despite the team’s differences from last season, Lee said.
“What’s different with this group is we’re taking the stuff off the field serious,” Lee said. “We’re communicating a lot more. We’re making sure each other are okay. It’s a brotherhood.”
The offensive line’s improvements could positively impact the running back room, senior running back Raheim Sanders said.
“It starts with the O-line … Them having self-confidence in themselves, they’re doing the right thing, is an effect on us. And everything we do is going to affect on them,” Sanders said. “I feel like just trusting them, and they’re trusting us. We are going to have a bright future on that.”
Sixth-year quarterback Davis Beville said the team’s offensive lineman have shown their work ethic and determination to get better heading into the new season. South Carolina’s offensive linemen stayed in Columbia during the month of May to work with the team’s strength and conditioning staff, Beville said.
“That’s a group of guys, I’d say, they’re working harder than anybody on the team. They stayed through the month of May. They took that time when we had off and really grinded their butts off,” Beville said. “I got to hand it to them. Those guys are playing their tails off, and I am excited to see what happens this year.”
South Carolina revealed its depth chart on Monday for its regular season opener against Old Dominion. Three positions along the offensive line have confirmed starters — Bell at left guard, Lee at center and Henry at right tackle.
Starters have yet to be revealed at the other two spots. Both Simpkins III and Baugh are in the mix at right guard, while Babalade and Thompson — the lone true freshman listed as a starter, potential starter or backup — are competing at left tackle.
Thompson — a Dillion, South Carolina, native and On3 Preseason All-American — has similarly shown a level of work ethic that could result in playing time, Simpkins III said.
“He wants to work, and he’s going to work. He’s showing us every day that he’s ready to work, and he’s coming in ready to work, ready to learn. He’s learning from the coaches, older guys, newer guys who are older,” Simpkins III said. “He’s working to be the best of his ability.”
South Carolina’s offense will face its first test of the season against Old Dominion on Saturday. Kickoff is set for 4:15 p.m., and the game will be broadcast on the SEC Network.
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Publish date : 2024-08-27 13:10:00
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