Coach speak: Matt Campbell discusses Gamecocks OL commit Wyatt Campbell

Lugoff-Elgin head coach Matt Campbell -- a former South Carolina and NFL standout at tight end and offensive line -- has seen plenty of talent in his years on the field.

Campbell played at South Carolina from 1990-93 before a nine-year NFL career that saw a stop in Charlotte with the Carolina Panthers.

Now about to start his third season at Lugoff-Elgin, Campbell has watched rising senior offensive tackle Wyatt Campbell become one of the state's most highly recruited prospects before committing to the Gamecocks earlier this month.

Matt Campbell spoke with GamecockCentral.com about what South Carolina is getting in the three-star offensive tackle.

GamecockCentral.com: What stands out to you about Wyatt Campbell on the field?

Matt Campbell: Well, first off, it doesn't hurt when you're about 6-6, 285-pounds. It's hard to coach that. Obviously, that's going to get you a bunch of looks anyway, but I'm going to tell you, he's athletic, a very athletic kid. He probably has the best set of hands on our team, moves around real well, runs well, tests well on the pro agility. The thing that not all of them have is he's got that offensive line mentality. He's got a nastiness, especially when we get in that game. I hate to say it, because he's not a dirty player, but he takes nastiness to that next level. To compete at a high level at offensive line you've got to have that.

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GCC: What were your impressions of the job that offensive line coach Eric Wolford did in recruiting him?

MC: I thought they did a great job. With the transition and all, you knew it was going to be kind of awkward over there, and I knew they needed some help at the line position. So as soon as Wolf got there, he got in touch with me and we talked about him and I gave him my honest evaluation of Wyatt and he agreed from what he had seen on him on film. We took him over there for a spring practice, so he got to see that and he got to see Coach Wolford coaching.

What Wolf had told him all along was, 'I need you in a one-day camp,' he said, 'I've got to see if I can work with you and you can work with me and you're going to see exactly how I coach and how I teach. We've got to figure out if this is a good match.' He told him, he said, 'Son, if you come to camp, we'll let you know within 48 hours what we're going to do.' And they've always been forthright and honest and did what they said. I appreciate that more than somebody trying to string a kid along. I'd rather have a guy that's to the point and says this is how it's going to be.

He said, 'You come to camp, if you're not a kid we're going to offer, I'll tell you who's in front of you on the board,' so they've always been real straightforward and honest with Wyatt and we appreciate that. One thing Wyatt made a comment about to us was, he felt like Coach Wolford was the type of guy who could maximize his talent, he thinks he's the type of guy with his coaching style and all that can get the most out of him, and for him at 16-years-old to recognize that is pretty impressive.

GCC: Is he definitely an offensive tackle at the next level?

MC: Looking at his athleticism and his long frame, that's where I would see him playing, but, heck, now days you look at the SEC and all your guards and all are 6-6. He has the ability to be that guard [too]. We played him at guard last year, because of his ability to run and pull and do things like that. This year, his brother graduated, so we moved him out to tackle and he's been able to handle that. He's a kid that I think can play a little bit of everything. Honestly, I think if it got down to it, I think he could play center. He messed around with our quarterbacks and goes out there and snaps and keeps telling me he wants to play center too. I do like the fact that he's not afraid to try anything. And offensive line, when you're talking about traveling, you can travel a good bit of players, but really you're talking eight or nine guys in the mix, so even if you're that second-level guy, the more you can do, the more opportunities you're going to create for yourself.

GCC: Does he remind you of anyone else you've coaches or played with?

MC: He's kinda like a guy I played with, (former Gamecock lineman) James Dexter. Dex was just a big ole kinda goofy kid, but he had that nasty mentality. One thing about Wyatt, you never know what he's going to say, but he's a good kid. I've always said to be an offensive lineman, you've got to be special, because you've got to work hard, but you've got to be goofy and you've got to be able to goof off, and he's got that perfect mix.