The Future Is Now: South Carolina football freshmen who are ready to help right now
By Kevin Miller
South Carolina Football freshmen ready to help right now:
Offensive Linemen Trovon Baugh and Oluwatosin “Tree” Babalade
Many fans don’t typically notice offensive linemen unless something isn’t going well. The fact that the Gamecocks’ offensive line performance in week 1 against North Carolina was such a major part of conversations speaks to how poor the blocking truly was.
The overall showing against Furman was much better, and some of the Gamecocks’ best-blocked drives of the young season included some new personnel up front. True freshmen Oluwatosin “Tree” Babalade and Trovon Baugh saw their first real action against the Paladins and played well.
Tree played better than any other Gamecock offensive lineman has this season in pass protection. According to PFF, the true freshman tackle (who got most of his snaps on the left side) graded out at an elite 86.4.
Baugh, who played on the interior at guard, was almost as good at protecting Spencer Rattler and LaNorris Sellers, grading out at 84.2 in pass pro. Baugh also finished a couple of blocks in the run game in impressive fashion, including a big pancake near the goal line.
The two young linemen, along with fellow freshman Markee Anderson who is expected to make his debut this weekend against Georgia, could continue helping the Gamecock offensive line, especially if the veteran starters show some of the struggles that plagued the unit in week 1.