Camper hopes to use Vandy performance as springboard

When the South Carolina offense trotted out onto the field for its first series against Vanderbilt a week ago, sophomore offensive lineman Blake Camper was standing on the sidelines eager for an opportunity to play.

By the end of the night, Campo had logged 57 snaps at right tackle and become a fixture along the offensive front for the Gamecocks.

Donell Stanley’s severe high ankle sprain early in the first quarter – an injury that could sideline him until after the bye week in mid-October – suddenly thrust Camper into the lineup.

Except for The Citadel game last season, most of Camper’s action as a freshman in 2015 had come on special teams.

Now the 6-foot-8, 300-pounder from Virginia Beach, Va., was standing squarely in the national television limelight in a critically important game for the Gamecocks.

“There was definitely a few pregame jitters, but nothing serious,” Camper said earlier this week. “After the first play I was zoned in and ready to go.”

Camper passed the test with flying colors as he and Parks fortified the right side of the offensive line.

“(Camper) went in and played extremely well for us the other night,” Will Muschamp said. “D.J. probably took a grand total of probably 25 snaps though camp at the guard position because we wanted to saturate him as much as possible at the tackle position. He goes in there at guard and had zero busted assignments in about 60 snaps at right guard. That says a lot about how they’re getting coached and developed by Shawn. It’s man down, man up. Taking advantage of an opportunity. They (Camper and Park) did a good job for our team.”

Along with the rest of the Gamecock offense, Camper turned his performance up a notch. The Gamecocks amassed 80 yards rushing over the final 30 minutes, 220 yards total and Vanderbilt was blanked in the sacks department.

“There is always room to improve, but overall I thought we did a good job, definitely in the run game in the second half,” Camper said. “We really played well. D.J. and I played off each other very well. I’m excited to see how the rest of the season goes."

Will Camper start this week? The answer largely depends on Alan Knott’s availability as he returns from a hand injury and a one-game suspension, forcing him to miss the opener in Nashville.

If Knott is ready to go, he will likely start at center with Cory Helms kicking out to right guard and Park moving back to right tackle after replacing Stanley at right guard against Vanderbilt to make room for Camper.

Flexibility has been a hallmark of the Gamecock offensive line as position coach Shawn Elliott mixes and matches in order to find the best combinations.

“We’ve got a lot of flexibility. Cory, Alan, Chandler Farrell and Zac Bailey can all snap,” Muschamp said earlier this week. “Anyone of those four can go in and play center. Cory, Alan can play either guard position. D.J. Park can play either guard position.

“Blake Camper and D.J. can play right tackle and flip to the left tackle depending on how Malik has practiced throughout the week. When you have multiple snappers, it creates a lot of things for you to be able to move and get the best five guys in the game.”

Camper was listed as the first-team right tackle heading into spring practice, but lost his spot to Park, a redshirt junior who enjoyed an outstanding spring. Yet, Camper didn’t mope and continued to work hard, opening the door for his opportunity for Vanderbilt.

“I asked him in front of the whole team, did you like that demotion? Did you agree with it? He said no,” Muschamp said. “I appreciate his honesty. He never complained, he never moaned, he never groaned. He took it, improved, had a great summer and a great fall camp. We have great confidence in him coming in and playing extremely well.”

Like many SEC offensive linemen, Camper’s biggest adjustment jumping from high school to college was the increased speed of the game. Over the past 16 months since joining the program, long hours in the weight room have paid dividends.

“From high school to college, the game is much faster,” Camper said. “Overall, I have gotten stronger and learned defenses a lot more in depth than I did coming in. Coach Elliott has really helped me to improve my game in both pass and run blocking in terms of hand placement, head placement and footwork. You could definitely get away with a lot more stuff in high school than you can in college. These guys we’re playing against are a lot quicker and a lot better.

“But I think I’ve stepped up and gotten my game together to where I can perform at this level.”