This weekend, Tom Luginbill of ESPN released his preseason Freshman All-American squad, and a Gamecock made the squad. Joining the South Carolina football program over the winter and going through a full spring and summer with the team, 5-star first-year player Josiah Thompson has put himself into good position to start, and ESPN has taken notice.
Thompson could be the Gamecocks' 1st team left tackle when they take the field against Old Dominion on August 31st (4:15 PM ET kickoff, broadcasted on SEC Network, and streamed on the ESPN app, by the way).
Incumbent Tree Babalade, who started more than half of the 2023 season at the position, has been in and out of the lineup this offseason as he has dealt with a few minor injuries. Even if Thompson gets the nod, Babalade also could factor into the battles at guard and/or right tackle, though, a group of Kamaar Bell (left guard), Toricelli Simpkins (right guard), and Cason Henry (right tackle) have performed well and seem poised to hold onto their starting gigs.
For Thompson, the chance to do something relatively unheard of is on the table as true freshmen left tackles don't often start game one in the SEC. Like Babalade, Dylan Wonnum was a primary starter during his first season, but he also began the year as a backup before getting most of his reps at right tackle. Players like Brandon Shell and Jamon Meredith redshirted before getting into the lineup, and they split their time between left and right tackle. If Thompson starts at left tackle against ODU, he will join Travelle Wharton as the only game one true freshmen starters at the spot in recent memory.
Fellow true freshman 5-star Dylan Stewart has also garnered some preseason love from other publications. The dynamic EDGE player will be a major factor for a Gamecocks defense that should be much improved in 2024.