With 60 days until kickoff, a look at South Carolina football's number 60 Aaryn Parks

The South Carolina football team is just 60 days away from kickoff, and despite breaking in a new quarterback and returning little experience at wide receiver, the biggest question mark on the offensive side of the football is the offensive line.

The 2023 version of the Gamecocks struggled mightily up front as injuries and poor play by the majority of the offensive line limited the offense in spite of great efforts from quarterback Spencer Rattler and wide receiver Xavier Legette.

Shane Beamer's team addressed their blocking deficiencies with six scholarship newcomers as three from the high school ranks (all ranked as a 4-star prospect or better by at least one major recruiting outlet) and three from the transfer portal joined the South Carolina football program.

One of the transfer portal additions is former Oklahoma Sooners tackle Aaryn Parks, a player who will wear #60 this fall. Parks played for the Sooners in 2020 when Beamer was an assistant coach in Norman. Though he is in his fifth year of college, he could return next season as a sixth-year senior if he chooses to do so as he has the option to utilize both a traditional redshirt and the "Covid redshirt."

Parks has been a backup for most of his career, but he was part of one of the best offensive line units in the country with the Sooners. He also is an athletic player at tackle who was highly regarded out of high school. Viewed by Rivals as a top-70 overall player in the class of 2020, Parks is another DMV kid who spent his prep days at National Christian Academy in Maryland.

With the Gamecocks, Parks immediately brought more depth to the roster. He has been competing this offseason at tackle, mostly at right tackle. Based on spring practice and the Garnet and Black Spring Game, Parks seems to be the current backup at right tackle behind Cason Henry. However, with Henry's injury history, his backup is an important piece of the offensive line puzzle.

If the Gamecocks are forced to use a backup at right tackle, they have to feel better about Parks being the guy than the unfortunate situation last year. Plus, if years past are any indication, Carolina will rotate in a couple of players up front to help ensure that the offensive line unit is as fresh as possible.

Parks and USC will open the season against Old Dominion in Brice Stadium on August 31st.