South Carolina Football: Gamecocks make top-5 for elite offensive lineman

South Carolina football offensive line coach Lonnie Teasley has done a really nice job of recruiting since taking over the job from Greg Adkins when the latter's health caused him to move to an off-field position within the program.

Since officially taking over the offensive line coach position for Carolina, Teasley has signed 5-star tackle Josiah Thompson, 4-star tackle Kam Pringle, and 4-star interior lineman Blake Franks. Before things were official, he was a factor in the recruitments of 4-star linemen Tree Babalade, Markee Anderson, and Tro Baugh as part of the class of 2023.

Now, in the class of 2025 and beyond, the leader of the Gamecocks' big uglies has been making solid relationships with the future of the garnet and black linemen.

One of the South Carolina football program's top targets on the offensive line in the class of 2025 is Isaac "Spike" Sowells. On Friday, the 3-star Louisville native announced that he had cut his list of suitors to five. The South Carolina Gamecocks, Kentucky Wildcats, Louisville Cardinals, Miami Hurricanes, and NC State Wolfpack all made the cut after Sowells' recruitment pruning. He is set to make his college decision in July.

Primarily a center at the high school level, Sowells projects to play the position at the college level, as well, but he could slide over to guard in the right situation. He has some experience playing tackle, too, but his physical profile (6'2" and under 300 pounds) doesn't seem a good fit at the position.

Sowells is an athletic lineman who functions well in space. On film, when he is asked to pull, he is a one-man wrecking crew as a lead blocker, and he has no issues climbing to the second level at the point of attack.

The big man plays with a mean streak, often finishing blocks with violence. Even in pass protection, he always seems ready to deliver a blow to would-be pass rushers, a trait that (if harnessed and utilized correctly) could pair with his excellent feet to equal a good future protecting quarterbacks.

You can watch some of his film here.