Breaking down who's gone, who's coming back on South Carolina's offensive line

Once again, South Carolina’s offensive line enters the offseason with room to grow, but this is a group with the potential to get there nine months out from the season starting.

Despite a handful of nearly-irreplaceable departures, there will be a lot of talent in the room heading into next season. Some key veterans are returning for another season, while many newcomers — both transfers and freshmen — will join the team.

Working with that talent will be Lonnie Teasley, who was promoted to offensive line coach.

Shane Beamer said he also wants to keep Greg Adkins, Teasley’s predecessor, around the program in some capacity. Adkins was dealing with a minor health issue that limited his availability last season.

“We haven’t talked about responsibilities and all that,” Beamer said. “I mean, he’s still going to be heavily involved with what we do. I told him I wanted him to stay around. To me, we’ve got two great offensive line coaches in Lonnie and Ad. I’m happy to have both of them here. They both are on the same page and work great together.”

Here’s a look at the offensive line for 2023.

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Departures

While some veterans staying, a trio of three-year starters won’t be. Eric Douglas, Jovaughn Gwyn and Dylan Wonnum are leaving for the NFL Draft. It might not end there, though.

South Carolina could also lose Hank Manos and Wyatt Campbell, both of whom were honored at last year’s senior day. Both graduated from the university but still have another year of remaining eligibility.

Beamer said their returns are “still to be determined.”

“I think they’ve decided to go on to what’s next…They’re not involved in our workouts right now,” he said. “Great young men and we certainly wish them well for everything they did for Gamecock football.”

Redshirt freshman Jordan Davis is also leaving the program after entering the transfer portal. He spent two seasons with the team and never saw a snap.

All three departures will be tough to replace, especially Douglas and Gwyn. Those two anchored the interior offensive line for years and their 84 combined starts will be missed. Wonnum also started a plethora of games but injuries stunted some of that his final few seasons.

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Returners

It’s always a challenge when a unit loses many of its starters, especially on the offensive line. Combined with having to protect Spencer Rattler, they’ll have to see who can step up.

Though, the Gamecocks will have a pair of starters, Jaylen Nichols and Jakai Moore, coming back from last year. Nichols started at left tackle and should compete for that starting job next season. Moore mostly played at left guard in 2022 but also can play either tackle position.

With the left side of the line in good shape, there are three other spots to fill. Other linemen with plenty of experience–Vershon Lee, Trai Jones and Tyshawn Wannamaker–will be back. Lee and Jones have seen most of their action at guard while Wannamaker has played tackle. He started seven games in 2021 while Wonnum battled injuries.

One name to keep an eye on will be 6-foot-6, 300-pound tackle Cason Henry. As a freshman, he didn’t see the field all that often, with only 35 snaps. However, he was brought on every road trip, setting himself up to be a potential starter in the future.

“He’s a guy that I think will be a really good player for us, as he moves forward in his career,” Beamer said. “He’s a guy who’s really gotten better this year as well, and we’ve got a ton of confidence in him.”

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Newcomers

South Carolina added Nick Gargiulo and Sidney Fugar from the portal. Both should be competing for reps on the line alongside the returning players. Gargiulo seems tailor-made entering spring to take over at center.

Gargiulo is a product of Yale, where he made 24 starts for the Bulldogs. He was Yale’s sole team captain in 2022, leading the team to an Ivy League championship. The Bulldogs led the conference in rushing, total offense and scoring offense.

He started 10 games at center while with Yale. Along with his already-established leadership qualities, he could be a great fit.

Fugar previously spent two seasons at Western Illinois, where he started nine games at tackle last year. He’s got a massive frame, standing at 6-foot-5, 332 pounds. It’s not a guarantee what his role will be yet, but that size alone lends itself well. It might be an adjustment going from the FCS ranks to the SEC, though.

Gamecock fans could also get to see some highly-touted freshmen take their first reps next season. South Carolina added three On3 consensus four-star linemen to its 2023 recruiting class: Markee Anderson, Oluwatosin “Tree” Babalade and Trovon Baugh.

Anderson is a local kid from Dorman High School in Spartanburg County. He was the second-highest-rated player out of South Carolina in the 2023 recruiting rankings. Similarly to how Henry was the standout amongst freshmen last year, Anderson should have a chance to stand out next season.

After some back-and-forth, Babalade is back in the fold for the Gamecocks. He was a highly sought-after recruit for Beamer and Teasley. While he’s got the right size for a college tackle, he might benefit learning from the veterans of the group.

Baugh, the No. 24 interior lineman and No. 35 player in Georgia, figures to play guard at South Carolina. His great athleticism and size will provide solid depth for the Gamecocks in his first year.

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