Several Gamecock players getting work at left tackle
SOUTH CAROLINA GAMECOCKS FOOTBALL
After losing two-year starter Dennis Daley, South Carolina's coaching staff knew heading into this offseason that a new player would be manning the all-important left tackle position.
Redshirt junior Sadarius Hutcherson, who played guard last season, was one candidate that the staff expected to get a strong look at the spot. The Tennessee native has indeed taken the reigns this spring.
"I'm expecting him to probably be the left tackle right now, but nothing's ever guaranteed in this game," offensive line coach Eric Wolford said on Tuesday. ""He's trained there in the past so it's not like it's anything new for him. There are some intricacies as far as learning the position. I expect him to do well, we believe int the guy. He's done well thus far, hopefully he'll continue."
Due to Wolford's philosophy of cross-training players at multiple positions, Hutcherson has some experience at left tackle in practice during his career. There are some key differences in sliding outside, but the coaching staff feels Hutcherson is well-equipped to handle it.
"When you play inside it's more of a physical mentality. so when you do bump out to tackle it's a little easier somewhat as far as the run blocking goes. The pass blocking, obviously the challenge comes, especially on third and long," said Wolford. "I want to develop quality depth behind him and I feel good about where we're headed there.
While Daley is a draftable player who brought quality play to the field for the Gamecocks, Wolford wants to continue to build on the position. Daley has helped out Hutcherson in the move.
"His relationship with Hutch has made this transition a lot easier; they're good friends," Wolford explained. "Our mentality is, Dennis is a great player and he's on to the next level. We expect the same for the next guy who steps in, to play at a high level and play even better. I want Hutch to play better than Dennis, I want Hutch to get drafted higher than Dennis. We want to keep getting better, we don't want to stay the same."
Wolford said that USC will end up training four current players at the left tackle position between Hutcherson, Dylan Wonnum (projected starting right tackle), freshman Jaylen Nichols, and Eric Douglas.
"Who knows, we might be talking about a couple more guys in the lineup before it's all said and done," said Wolford. "Eric Douglas will be a guy starting after spring break that we'll dabble with some reps over there just to make sure we have enough guys. Jaylen Nichols has done some good things for a young guy. He has some natural tools, some physical traits, some ability. It's kind of going fast for him at times but he competes. He's got to learn some finer details of blocking when it comes to blocking an SEC guy. He vertical jumped 30 inches with a strained hamstring. That tells you what he has in his body."
Another incoming freshman who will arrive this summer, highly-touted signee Jakai Moore, could also draw a look at the tackle spot.
Said Wolford: "He's obviously a tremendous athlete. He could legitimately play left tackle. When we get him down here in June, we'll have him two months to get him ready to go. Who knows how fast he learns the plays and how bad he wants it. He might be able to sneak in there and get in the two deep or be the next man up or who knows, maybe by midseason he's the best guy. I can't predict that."
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