After four seasons under the direction of Eric Wolford, South Carolina’s offensive line will have a new coaching position. Wolford left the Gamecocks program and will be seen annually as Kentucky’s offensive lineman.
As head coach Shane Beamer has not yet hired an assistant coach for this group, it is not too early to analyze the state of the room. Remember that this group is subject to change, as Gamecocks have already been reached by three players (all defensive) entering the transfer portal since the end of the season. In addition, players of class distinction made in 2020 will not be changed in 2021 due to a free year of eligibility.
The only known exit of this group is the senior left guard redshirt Sadarius Hutcherson. The best player in front of the Gamecocks declared for the NFL Draft after five seasons in Columbia. Hutcherson started all 10 games in 2020. He was not recognized by the Associated Press or SEC Coaches, but Pro Football Focus named him a second All-SEC team. He is a sure bet to be named a permanent team captain for the 2020 season and ended with 39 career starts, including 36 consecutive starts.
Staying inside the line, there were two others who started all 10 games this season, but will likely return, as they are not considered candidates for the NFL Draft at the moment. In the center, junior red shirt Eric Douglas did not disappoint in its first season exclusively in the center. Last year, he played in nine games with a start on the right guard. Whoever the new coach of the offensive line is, he has a solid starting point in the most important position in the room.
No one was on the right guard at the start of all 10 games, except the second year redshirt Jovaughn Gwyn. Starting right in the center was nothing new for the Charlotte native, who started the final 11 games of the 2019 season at the same location. While the spring and preseason training camps will determine who starts on the left guard with Hutcherson advancing, Gwyn has a right guard position assuming that is where the new coach would like to keep him.
At both tackle points, Gamecocks used a variety of combinations with five players: junior Dylan Wonnum, junior Jazston Turnetine, freshman in a red shirt Jakai Moorefreshman Vershon Lee and second year Jaylen Nichols.
Wonnum started all 10 games, but spent time on the left side of the line before being moved to the right side, where he started his freshman and sophomore seasons exclusively. Turnetine, a junior college All-American who was believed to be the tackle solution to the left after a strong spring, struggled to stay in shape over the summer and was slowed down by it earlier in the season. He appeared in six games and started three of them on the left tackle.
Moore played in eight games and started six of them. He played left and right tackle. Lee played three games and debuted against Vanderbilt on the right. Nichols never started a game, but appeared in all 10 games.
Other line attackers who will appear in the games:
R-JR. OG Jordan Rhodes – Four games (Tennessee, Florida, Vanderbilt and Georgia)
R-SO. OG Wyatt Campbell – Two games (Tennessee and Vanderbilt)
R-FR. OC / OG Vincent Murphy – Two games (Vanderbilt and Kentucky)
R-SO. OC Hank Manos – A game (Vanderbilt)
FR. OG Tyshawn Wannamaker – A game (Vanderbilt)
Other strikers on the list:
R-FR. OG Will Rogers
FR. OC / OG Trai Jones (season lost due to ankle surgery)
Class of 2,021 signatories:
The three star OT JonDarius Morgan (Birmingham, Ward / Huffman)
The three star OT Jordan Davis (Fairburn, Ga./Creekside)
Of the nine forwards on the three lists directly above, Rhodes is in the best position to gain start time at the beginning of the 2021 season. Already considered a candidate to start as a guard entering the 2020 pre-season camp, Rhodes gave up and returned to the team. With 10 career starts on the left guard, Rhodes has to be the first favorite to replace Hutcherson to the left of the center.
My very early prediction of the season’s initial attack line (from left to right): Turnetine, Rhodes, Douglas, Gwyn and Wonnum