Tree Babalade ready to 'step up my game now' as returning starter on offensive line
As a freshman, it didn’t take long for Tree Babalade to be thrown into the fire. By the third game of the 2023 season, he already moved into the starting spot at left tackle.
While an intimidating task, especially with the fact he was going up against Georgia’s defensive line, Babalade didn’t flinch. He finished with a 90 PFF pass-blocking grade in his first start and never let go of that spot, which he’d hold onto the rest of the year.
Now going into his second year, Babalade feels more prepared, returning as one of the starters on the offensive line.
“I feel like me playing as a freshman already helped me better my game for this sophomore year that’s coming up,” Babalade told GamecockCentral. “Just playing against the top talents and all, and they’re going to the league, so I did have ups and downs, had a lot of struggles. But I feel like this year, since I already dealt with all that, I feel like I should be able to step up my game now.”
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Babalade made nine starts in 11 games in 2023, already giving him a leg up in terms of gaining experience. He learned a lot from his first year at South Carolina. But the main issue he said he had last year was his technique on the line of scrimmage.
“I feel like that was probably the main problem,” he said. “In high school, I was bigger than everybody, but since you’re in the SEC, everybody is the same size and speed. So I just have to get better, technique wise.”
For him, it all starts with the first move he makes when the ball is snapped. If the slightest thing were to go wrong, it could lead to less than ideal results. So that’s something he’ll focus on working through in fall camp over the next month.
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“Mainly just breaking down what step I need to take block a defender and stop him from getting to the quarterback. Even with pass set, just which way I have to kick or release,” Babalade said.
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But at the same time, he’ll also have to focus on earning his starting role back. While he’s the returning starter at left tackle, there will be plenty of competition on the o-line. Freshman Josiah Thompson figures to be another player competing for reps at that position this fall.
In some cases, it could feel overwhelming to not only fine-tune your game, but also have to compete again for a starting spot. But for Babalade, he says “it’s going to be fun.”
“We do have a lot of depth. We don’t even know who the starters are,” Babalade said. “We’re just competing, making each other better. But y’all will see game one whoever starts, but right now, everybody’s just competing.”
