With 52 days until South Carolina football kickoff, a look at number 52 Kamaar Bell

South Carolina football coach Shane Beamer and his team are 52 days away from a crucial season. After a 5-7 dip in 2023, 2024 has to be better for the Gamecocks, and as part of the team's improvement efforts, Beamer and his staff have brought in a large class of players from the transfer portal to infuse the roster with potential difference-makers and necessary depth pieces.

One of the transfer portal additions will wear #52 this season. Offensive lineman Kamaar Bell, a player who spent time with the Auburn Tigers before becoming a three-year starter with the Florida Atlantic Owls. Bell will use his final year of college eligibility with the South Carolina football program and seems to be part of the two-deep on offense as of the time of this writing.

Bell is an interior offensive lineman who has spent most of his college days playing the guard position. He is battling for a starting job, but with a crowded group of guards and an all-but-decided starting center position for Vershon Lee, being part of the first five up front won't be easy.

Bell is competing with fellow veteran transfer Torricelli Simpkins, 2023 starter Trovon Baugh, experienced veteran Jakai Moore, and former 4-star prospect Markee Anderson for playing time this season. There also has been some discussion around Tree Babalade kicking inside if he isn't the starter at left tackle (he seems poised to start there as of now), and redshirt sophomore Ryan Brubaker was believed to be the backup center last year before injury).

Bell's veteran presence will be an important aspect of the offensive line unit, whether he is starting, part of the two-deep, or serving in a mentor capacity on the bench. The coaching staff would not have brought Bell into the fold if they didn't believe he could be a contributor, though, so if he is not playing, it must mean good things about whichever player is getting those snaps instead.

Bell and the Gamecocks will open their season on August 31st with a home game against the Old Dominion Monarchs at Williams-Brice Stadium.