Vershon Lee talks transition to center, offensive line goals
Vershon Lee has spent the last three years at South Carolina just moving closer and closer to the middle of the offensive line.
After playing left tackle in high school, Lee’s gone from the outside anchor to left guard the past few seasons to now center where he’s the likely starter there for the Gamecocks.
And with that move comes a new set of rules and things Lee is responsible for on the offensive line.
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“It’s different. I didn’t even play center in high school. I played left tackle. It’s completely different,” he said. “You see the field through a different lens. You have to be more vocal and understand what your teammates are doing.”
Lee’s one of the more veteran starters for South Carolina, having 17 starts under his belt with 16 of those the last two seasons. Only Xavier Legette (20), Jakai Moore (19) and Jaylen Nichols (18) have more starts with the Gamecocks than him.
He’s played almost exclusively guard, but now South Carolina is asking him to anchor the interior at center.
It’s a lot different for Lee–who is now playing without gloves for the first time in his career–who has to understand more about defenses and what they’re doing.
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“At left guard, you’re usually looking at the left side and looking at your playground to the left side. But at center, you’re looking at the whole field,” Lee said. “You’re seeing the right side, the safety rotations from the right side and seeing what the safeties are doing on the left side. It’s just a big picture.”
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What Lee has, though, is a resource in Eric Douglas. Douglas just finished his college career last season and was a multi-year starter at center for the Gamecocks. Lee said he’s learned a ton from him and from another guard who’s now in the NFL in Jovaughn Gwyn.
“I talk to Eric almost every day. He helps me out with many things I don’t understand,” Lee said. “He’s helped me out a lot. Jovaughn taught me how to lead without saying (much).”
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Lee is part of an offensive line that has struggled for consistency in the past and hoping to take a big step forward in 2023.
They’ll break in a new offensive line coach in Lonnie Teasley, who took over for Greg Adkins early last season and earned the full-time gig this offseason.
It’s a group that needs to protect the quarterback better. And also pave the way for what was an inefficient run game in 2022.
That’s the goal, Lee said, as the Gamecocks get ready to enter week two of training camp.
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“As an offensive line, we’re trying to eliminate the free hitters and guys getting through without being touched. Then the tackles for loss right around the handoff. Then not allowing guys to get to the quarterback and hit them and cause jeopardy with ball security or force the quarterback to throw it faster.”
