Gritty freshman walk-on offensive lineman impresses Muschamp

Paraphrasing former SNL character Chico Escuela, Summerville (SC) High School has been very, very good to the South Carolina offensive line.

A year ago, Zac Bailey was a major contributor to the Gamecocks as a true freshman with five starts, three at center and two at left guard. He was pressed into service when Alan Knott suffered an ankle injury. The valuable experience earned Bailey, who had never played center until last season, SEC All-Freshman accolades from the league’s coaches.

This season, another Summerville High graduate could make a similar impact to the Gamecock offensive line as a true freshman.

Shrine Bowler Chandler Farrell, listed at 6-foot-2, 280 pounds, has performed well enough in pre-season camp that Muschamp confidently proclaimed Sunday during a teleconference with reporters that Farrell, a walk-on who just turned 18 years old in June, would likely play for USC in 2016 instead of redshirting.

“This guy is a good football player,” Muschamp said of Farrell. “He is going to play for us this year. He plays the way we want to play at South Carolina. He plays with great toughness, he plays with great effort and he’s a smart football player.

“He needs to be in our weight program for a year to continue to grow and develop. But coming from Summerville, he knows something about hard work and work ethic and what it takes to be a successful person and that normally translates into being a successful football player.”

How impressive has Farrell been? Even though two weeks remain in preseason camp, Muschamp declared Sunday night the former Green Wave standout “is going to be on the bus” headed to the airport for the road trip to Vanderbilt for the Sept. 1 season opener.

Farrell’s father, Chandler, lettered three times for the Gamecocks in football from 1990-92.

OPEN PRACTICES THIS WEEK: Muschamp eagerly anticipates the three open practices this week, two at Williams-Brice Stadium, beginning Monday at 6:30 p.m. and continuing Tuesday and Wednesday at the same time. Tuesday’s workout will be held on the Gamecock Park Practice Fields before the Gamecocks return to Williams-Brice Stadium on Wednesday.

Muschamp looks forward to watching how the Gamecocks perform in front of a large crowd for the first time since the spring game in April.

“For a lot of the true freshmen, this is going to be the first time they have been in this kind of environment,” Muschamp said. “It’s important for our fans, first and foremost, because we have the most loyal fan base in the country. We have to get some of our guys out in front of a crowd and see how things go. We’re at the point in time where we’re in camp and about to start classes. We need a little energy, a little juice and our fans will bring it.”

TWO PLAYERS SWITCH POSITIONS: Redshirt freshman Javon Charleston enjoyed a solid spring at wide receiver as seen by the preseason depth chart, where he is one of just five wide receivers listed. Charleston, though, is now changing sides of the football. He is moving to defensive back in a move Muschamp described as a “reward.”

“We need some more guys back there (in the secondary) and we’re still not done trying to find some other guys that can play for us on the back end,” Muschamp said. “Javon is a good athlete. I’ve been very pleased watching his physicality on special teams. He runs well. He has some toughness about him.

“We have some young receivers progressing pretty well, and he is progressing well. To me, this is a reward for him. He is going to have an opportunity to play for us, probably more quickly at DB than on the other side (of the ball). He has good ball skills. I’m excited about him. We’ll see what he can do.”

Charleston was a tremendous athlete in a high school, excelling in basketball and track as well as being an all-conference and all-area performer in football. He was one of the best long jumpers in the state of Illinois, reaching as far as 23 feet.

Additionally, 6-foot-2, 286-pound true freshman Darius Whitfield from Mobile, Ala., has crossed over from defensive line to offensive line. Muschamp hinted the move was permanent.

“We’ll see if he can play center or guard for us,” Muschamp said. “We think that’s going to be his future here.”

Offensive line is not unfamiliar territory for Whitfield. He earned a spot on the 2015 Alabama Class 5A all-state team as an offensive lineman and helped St. Paul’s Episcopal capture consecutive state championships.

NOTES:

-- Muschamp said senior Jordan Diggs has been very productive in practice, and will play both safety and nickel. He also hinted Diggs could see action at SAM linebacker. Rashad Fenton has also played nickel, but according to Muschamp he is the Gamecocks’ best cover cornerback on the perimeter. Thus, Fenton looks to spend most of his time at cornerback. Steven Montac and Antoine Wilder have also repped at nickel. “Out of those four guys, I’m feel comfortable we can get some production at that position.” Muschamp said, adding if the season started tomorrow, Diggs would start at nickel.

-- Freshman early enrollee Kier Thomas (6-2, 270) has moved inside to play defensive tackle, a position he played at Miami (Fla.) Central High School, Muschamp said. “He played inside at Miami Central his whole career and is an undersized D-lineman, but since he has been here he has blown up,” Muschamp said. “He is up to 270 (pounds). He has changed his body. He is lifting. He looks good.” Thomas is one of several freshman defensive linemen that have pleased Muschamp so far in preseason camp, naming Aaron Thompson (6-3, 271), D.J. Wonnum (6-4, 240), Kobe Smith (6-2, 305) and redshirt freshman Shameik Blackshear as other young promising defensive linemen.

-- Muschamp said Boosie Whitlow is taking reps at BUCK Linebacker, but is currently working behind senior Darius English (Muschamp: “He has had a good camp”), redshirt freshman Daniel Fennell and Bryson Allen-Williams (also plays OLB) at the position. Thus, he is no higher than fourth on the depth chart after a promising freshman campaign.