South Carolina Football: 5 Gamecocks who could blow up in 2023
By Kevin Miller
South Carolina Football players who could blow up in 2023:
Offensive Lineman Nick Gargiulo
Nick Gargiulo transferred in from Yale without much hype. The former Ivy Leaguer was the only team captain for the Bulldogs and made an early impression on his new program, moving himself up the depth chart quickly.
Now, Gargiulo is all but guaranteed a starting spot on the offensive line for the Gamecocks. Originally thought to be brought in to compete for the starting center job, Gargiulo will now start at one of the guard spots up front.
The big New Yorker has become a bit of a fan favorite due to some off-the-field reasons (like eating a record 10 cheeseburgers at local Jack Brown’s Beer and Burger Joint or his ability to grow a mean mustache), but his play on the field will endear him to fans even more in due time.
Gargiulo had a great summer and fall camp with the Gamecocks, and his hard work has been noticed by national media outlets. The Athletic ranked the big man in the top-100 transfer players in college football this season, a list that did not include very many offensive linemen.
During a media availability earlier in August, fellow transfer offensive lineman (and potential starter at tackle) Sidney Fugar called Gargiulo the “heart and soul” of the offensive line group. Quarterback Spencer Rattler and head coach Shane Beamer have both sung his praises throughout the offseason.
The football-obsessed Pete Lembo, the Gamecocks’ special teams coordinator, referred to his fellow Italian New Yorker as “my kind of guy.”
For those worried about the size difference between offensive linemen in the Ivy League and the SEC, don’t. Gargiulo is up to about 330 pounds and has held up nicely in camp against real SEC defensive linemen like Tonka Hemingway, Boogie Huntley, TJ Sanders, and Nick Barrett.