South Carolina Football’s GOAT Series: Top-10 Greatest Offensive Linemen of All-Time
By Kevin Miller
South Carolina Football’s No. 6 Offensive Lineman of All-Time:
T/G Melvin Paige
.@GamecockFB portrait week starts today. Here's a throwback to 2001: Offensive lineman Melvin Paige plays a trombone on 8/24/2001. During high school, Paige was in marching band and didn't play football until his junior year. (@thestate) @gogamecocks #marchingband pic.twitter.com/D7hJOwmMnz
— The State Vintage (@thestatevintage) July 16, 2018
Melvin Paige (1997-2001) made two All-SEC teams and an All-SEC freshman team during his career as a Gamecock. He was part of some interesting offensive line units that had two or three pro-caliber linemen playing alongside two or three below-reserve-level talents.
Big Melvin was part of the offensive line unit that transitioned the program from the firing of Brad Scott into the Lou Holtz-era. A latecomer to football who didn’t start playing until his junior year of high school, Paige primarily played tackle at South Carolina but played some inside as well. He was briefly a guard in NFL Europe after his collegiate playing career.