Greg Adkins, veterans talk offensive line entering preseason camp
Ideally, Greg Adkins would like to have South Carolina’s five offensive line starters locked in sooner rather than later. But the good news for him and the Gamecocks is they have options.
Because of that, while Adkins wants to know quickly, he’s OK if a handful of position battles go longer than normal into preseason camp.
“As soon as possible, truthfully. But I think there’s enough competition out there where it can go a little longer than maybe before,” he said. “It’s always hard to predict injuries and all the different things that can happen. Obviously the sooner than better you’d love to do it.”
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The good news is the Gamecocks return six of the seven offensive linemen who played at least 350 snaps last season. That also doesn’t include Jakai Moore, who only played 250 but has started games in the past.
The issue is it’s a group that struggled at times during the 2021 season. The group showed flashes, but the line allowed pressure on 35.1 percent of dropbacks. That ended up being the second-worst in the SEC.
South Carolina also ranked 11th in the league averaging just 3.8 yards per rush.
They ended the season on a high note, rushing for at least 150 yards in three of their final five games and averaging 4.5 yards per carry.
“They way we prepared wasn’t the same each week. The way we prepared the auburn week, the Florida week, the North Carolina week was different than how we prepared the Missouri week, it was different how we prepared the Georgia week,” Eric Douglas said.
“It can’t be like that. We have to prepare the same all 12 weeks. We have to be the same the whole year. That’s the main thing we’re focusing in on.”
There seem to be three entrenched starters coming back in Douglas and both Jovaughn Gwyn and Vershon Lee at the guard spots. Jaylen Nichols seems the odds-on favorite to start at left tackle.
The competition comes at right tackle where Dylan Wonnum and Tyshawn Wannamaker are battling for the starter job.
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Wannamaker filled in for Wonnum last season after an injury. For Wonnum, he’s hoping to stay healthy and get to a point where he’s available for the entire season.
South Carolina is hoping for is regardless of who starts at right tackle that the cohesion and time spent playing together help the offensive line take a step forward.
“It’s a big deal. We have a level of comfort. I know he has my back,” Wonnum said, patting Douglas on the back. “I don’t have to worry about him and don’t have to compensate for him. Sometimes on the offensive line you overcompensate of certain people. We’re good.”
Adkins likes what he’s seen from his group over the summer, but they’ll need to continue to prove it on the field in preseason camp and as the season starts.
“It’s real simple: did you do your job? We call them my-mans. Did my man make the play? If you’re still blocking your man, it’s more than likely he’s not making the play. It’s a simple term we use,” he said.
“Did my man rush the passer and hit the quarterback? Did my man make the play in the run game? That’s the easiest way to evaluate. Whoever has the most my-mans probably isn’t playing very well.”
