National analyst believes South Carolina football offensive line group could be among most improved

Probably the biggest problem for the 2023 version of the South Carolina football team was the offensive line.

The problems up front were no secret—anyone who watched the team could see quarterback Spencer Rattler running for his life and the Gamecock running backs meeting would-be tacklers far too early on most plays—and despite huge seasons from Rattler and wide receiver Xavier Legette, the Carolina offense was doomed because of the blocking issues.

However, there is optimism around the USC fanbase that things will be better in 2024. Injuries played a huge role in last fall's failures on the line, and inexperience reared its head because of the younger players being thrust into early action because of those injuries. If the Gamecocks are healthier this year, the team's newcomers can help out, and the returners experience internal improvement, things will be better in Shane Beamer's 4th year as the head coach in Columbia.

That optimism surrounding the offensive line is shared by at least one national analyst.

On Monday night, Bud Elliott, an analyst for CBS and 247Sports, included the South Carolina Gamecocks among his "most improved offensive lines" in all of major college football.

According to Elliott, South Carolina, Colorado, TCU, Cincinnati, and Ole Miss will see the biggest jump in production from their big uglies in 2024.

From a personnel standpoint, the Gamecocks have brought in three transfers on the offensive line this offseason (interior linemen Torricelli Simpkins and Kamaar Bell and tackle Aaryn Parks), a highly-touted high school recruiting class (5-star tackle Josiah Thompson, 4-star tackle Kam Pringle, and 4-star guard Blake Franks), and players who battled injuries last year (Tree Babalade, Jakai Moore, Vershon Lee, Trovon Baugh, Cason Henry, Markee Anderson, and Ryan Brubaker) all appear to be healthy and ready to compete for spots in the two-deep this fall. Also, several of the players who really struggled last season are no longer with the team.

If Elliott's prediction comes to fruition, South Carolina football fans will have a much more pleasing-to-watch offense when the season begins in 39 days on August 31st against the Old Dominion Monarchs.