South Carolina football has struggled on the offensive line this season. In one of the worst performances in program history against North Carolina, the Gamecock front allowed Spencer Rattler to be sacked 9 times (and he escaped several other potential sacks) and the offense was held to -2 yards rushing.
Things got better against FCS program Furman, but things should be better against an FCS team, even if Furman is one of the top teams at that level. Even still, the Gamecocks did not have great success running the football.
Some of the best blocking drives against the Paladins came after two true freshmen entered the game. Oluwatosin “Tree” Babalade and Trovon Baugh got significant reps at left tackle and right guard in the Furman game, and they played better than some of the veterans who got the first chances to win the positions.
On Saturday against the two-time defending national champion Georgia Bulldogs, it appears like one of those two true freshmen has cracked the starting lineup.
Tree Babalade took the first-team reps at left tackle during pregame warmups according to a report from GamecockCentral’s Collyn Taylor.
The previous starter at left tackle, Western Illinois transfer Sidney Fugar, got the pregame reps at right tackle. Jakai Moore (right guard), Nick Gargiulo (left guard), and Vershon Lee (center) appear in line to stay in the lineup where they have been thus far in 2023.
Earlier this week, head coach Shane Beamer and offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains both spoke highly of the two freshmen linemen and intimated that they would both play this week against the Bulldogs. With Babalade appearing set to make his first career start, South Carolina football fans can expect to see Baugh play some on the interior, as well.
South Carolina football has not been opposed to rotating offensive linemen, so, in addition to Baugh, more Gamecock big uglies could see the field if the blocking struggle continues on Saturday.