51 days until South Carolina football kickoff, a look at number 51 Tree Babalade

The offensive line was the weakest point on the 2023 version of the South Carolina football team. Injuries devastated the unit, several players (who have since left the program) were forced to play roles they weren't good enough to play, and a couple of young players were thrust into major duty despite their lack of experience.

The disaster up front yielded the Gamecocks' worst-ever rushing output (just 85 yards per game), and quarterback Spencer Rattler was among the country's most-sacked players. Simply put, the USC offense couldn't do anything with much consistency last season as the offensive line issues doomed the unit.

With 51 days before the opening kickoff of the 2024 season, there is reason for optimism that things should be better this fall.

One of the improvements from last year's offensive line is an internal one. #51 is rising sophomore Tree Babalade. The former 4-star prospect had an up-and-down 2023 campaign, but he should be able to take a step forward this season.

Babalade became the Gamecocks' starter at left tackle just a handful of games into his true freshman season. He had some great moments (he was excellent against the Georgia Bulldogs) and some moments that reminded everyone that he was a true freshman.

If Babalade holds onto the starting job at left tackle (and he seems to be the favorite right now), it will mean that he held off 5-star freshman Josiah Thompson, 6th-year senior and former multi-positional starter Jakai Moore, and several others for the gig.

Already one of the strongest players on the team, Babalade has the tools to be an excellent player at tackle and could even kick inside to guard if the team needed him to do so. He has hands that are strong enough to stone most pass rushers if he can get into the proper position, and his feet and athleticism can only be getting better after another year in a college weight room.

Babalade is a virtual guarantee to be in the offensive two-deep this year, and he is a likely starter when the Gamecocks take the field for the first time against the Old Dominion Monarchs on August 31st.