Position breakdown: offensive line
Football is right around the corner, and GamecockCentral is going in-depth and breaking down each position on the field in preparation for kick off.
Every week GamecockCentral will analyze two positions—one offensive and another defensive—with the offensive line up next.
Projected starters (from left to right): Dennis Daley, senior; Zack Bailey, senior; Donell Stanley, junior; Sadarius Hutcherson, redshirt sophomore; Blake Camper, senior
Other returning players: Malik Young, senior, Christian Pellage, junior; Chandler Farrell, walk-on sophomore; Cameron Johnson, walk-on sophomore; Will Putnam, sophomore; Summie Carlay, redshirt freshman; Jordon Carty, redshirt freshman; Eric Douglas, redshirt freshman; Jordan Rhodes, redshirt freshman
Incoming signees: Wyatt Campbell, freshman; Jovaughn Gwyn, freshman; Maxwell Iyama, freshman; Hank Manos, freshman; Dylan Wonnum, freshman
Also see: Who are the best bets for the Gamecocks to land in the 2019 class?
The skinny: The offensive line is probably the most seasoned and talented Will Muschamp has had in his time at South Carolina. He returns three permanent starters from last year's line in Daley, Stanley and Bailey while Hutcherson and Camper both had spot starts after injuries decimated the group last year.
There's been some shifting around with Stanley moving to center and Bailey moving back inside to guard, his more natural position.
The starting line has a combined 58 career starts but is inexperienced after that. Right now, a lot of redshirt and true freshmen are working on the second team trying to adjust to the college game with Gwyn, Wonnum, Rhodes and Manos all rotating in there.
Also see: Insider notes and scouting report on baseball's newest commit
Player to watch: Sadarius Hutcherson
Hutcherson saw a lot of action in his redshirt freshman year after Cory Helms went down with an Achilles injury early. He played in 10 games with four starts and will be a big piece of the Gamecock offensive line moving forward.
He can play a few different positions but, at 6-foot-4 and 310 pounds, is probably best suited to play one of the guard spots. Will Muschamp said he was one of the team's best linemen during spring practice and won the Joe Morrison Offensive Player of the Spring award along with tight end K.C. Crosby.
If Hutcherson can stay healthy and build on a solid freshman season, then he could play his way into All-SEC votes.
Also see: Big Florida offensive lineman is coming to USC for an official
Newcomer to watch: Jordan Rhodes
He's not a newcomer per se, but he hasn't played yet after redshirting last season and will likely factor into the offensive line picture this fall.
Position coach Eric Wolford already said Rhodes is has starter-caliber talent and could see a few starts this season if injuries come up or another lineman falters. He's a huge player, listed at 6-foot-4 and 325 pounds, while he's taking practice reps at tackle.
He's another player that'll have to get adjusted to playing at the college level but once he gets in the game could become a big part of helping improve the Gamecocks' line.
