There’s only a week until South Carolina is able to put on its game day jerseys and hit somebody other than teammates.

On Sept. 2, the Gamecocks will travel to Charlotte to take on the NC State Wolfpack in the first game of the season.

It’s not like typical season openers, which are normally played against another team that helps the team get their feet under them before conference play starts.

“They’re just really impressive up front,” offensive lineman Malik Young said. “Their front seven, they’re going to come off the ball and they’re going to be physical. But coach (Eric) Wolford is working with those guys and I think we’re going to be ready for them.”

Also see: Post-practice notes, including who could start on special teams

After three weeks of preseason camp focusing on getting better as a team, the Gamecocks transitioned to preparing for their season opener.

NC State is staunch up front defensively, returning all three starters from a defense that held opponents to 4.42 yards a play on first downs last year, second best in the country.

The defensive line is something to key on for this game, and the Wolfpack are going to bring some exotic blitzes and different looks to try and confuse the Gamecock offensive line.

Will Muschamp and his coaching staff already have the game plan and they're now working on instituting it this week.

Offensive line play is going to be imperative. The Gamecocks gave up 3.2 sacks per game, which was the worst in the SEC. With a year under their belt in Muschamp’s system, the offensive line is hoping to give Jake Bentley more time in the pocket.

“It’s going to be big. With certain blitzes they bring we have to be able to protect that,” quarterback Michael Scarnecchia said. “That D-line is good. We have to be able to fix things so we can get routes going and we can get the ball out of our hands.”

Also see: Insider recruiting notes on Jaycee Horn and Trey Dean

The team’s watch the defensive line a lot in preparation for next Saturday’s opener so they can keep Bentley upright and create running lanes for a stable of capable running backs so they can put up points.

There are three shifty backs the Gamecocks could trot out against the Pack: Rico Dowdle, A.J. Turner and Ty’Son Williams. All three have good jump cuts, up to six feet, backs coach Bobby Bentley said.

Turner knows how devastating the opposing line can be, he fully believes in his teammates.

“I feel like if we do what we need to do and do our blocking assignments and we all do what we’re coached to do we’ll be fine,” he said.

Also see: Observations on a few in-state baseball commitments

New offensive line coach Eric Wolford has been working since the spring on getting his line ready to play against a formidable line, preaching technique and attention to detail.

There’s already a starting line up in place—Zack Bailey, Cory Helms, Alan Knott and Donnell Stanley—with only one position still up for grabs at left tackle between Malik Young and Dennis Daley.

They believe they can win with who they have on the line. It’ll be a big storyline to watch as the game goes along in Charlotte.

“They have a good D-line,” Bailey said. “All four of them are good players, got good size rush up the field pretty well. I’m going to respect what they do, and on game day I’m just going to do my job and see who wins.”