South Carolina went into spring practice trying to rebuild an offensive line that has been broken for a while, and then the Gamecocks got hit with another gut punch: both projected starting tackles were banged up.
That is hardly the ideal setup for a unit that has already been through a full reset. The position coach was dismissed in October 2025, the offensive coordinator was fired three games later and the roster churn followed fast. Eleven linemen were gone by graduation or transfer, including Rodney Newsom, who entered the portal but will need a waiver for an extra year to play in 2026.
The need for change has been obvious. South Carolina has allowed 125 sacks over the last three seasons, and it led the SEC with 43 last year.
Even with the same five linemen starting 13 games the season before, the results never really caught up to the continuity. Injuries and inconsistency were part of the problem, but the overall picture was bigger than that.
Now the Gamecocks are trying to piece it back together with a new voice and a new plan. New offensive coordinator Kendal Briles made it clear he expects the line to look the part.
“I think we’ll be able to put some guys out there that look like SEC football players and perform like it,” he said.
The first big question is left tackle. Imported starter Jacarrius Peak hurt his knee in a winter pickup basketball game, but he is ahead of schedule in his rehab. There is no guarantee he will be ready by Sept. 5, though South Carolina opens with Kent State and then Towson, giving the Gamecocks some early breathing room if they need it.
Josiah Thompson was another possible answer at tackle, but his path took a messy turn. He started 24 of 25 games at left tackle over the last two seasons, could have moved to the right side, then entered the portal, exited it and ultimately chose season-ending surgery to address a lingering issue.
That leaves new line coach Randy Clements, a longtime friend of Briles, with a lot of moving parts and not much interest in dwelling on the absences. He has been on the job since winter and has spent the spring cross-training the group, trying to sort out who can move between guard and tackle and who fits where when the real depth chart starts to harden.
“Obviously, you want to solidify, ‘OK, here’s your starting five from left to right, and here’s your three to four swing guys, six, seven, eight, nine, and that will work itself out,” USC coach Shane Beamer said. “I’ve seen him do a really good job of teaching and developing all across the board with everybody.”
South Carolina brought in 10 transfers, among them junior college addition Ashton Mazone. The class also included three high school players and Irish import Neff Giwa, a rugby athlete who has never played football. At 6-foot-8, 295 pounds with a 4.88 in the 40-yard dash, he at least has the kind of physical tools that make a staff take a chance.
Center is still unsettled, too, with UCF transfer Carter Miller and returnee Nolan Hay competing for the job.
As for the rest of the group, Briles pointed to Purdue transfer Hank Purvis and said he should be in the mix, while also mentioning Miller and Hay. Beamer added that Markee Anderson, an oft-injured redshirt junior, has been showing signs of life this summer.
“You know, (Purdue transfer Hank Purvis), I would say he’ll definitely be a guy that’ll be up there,” Briles said, who also credited Miller and Hay. “A guy that’s kind of coming on is Markee Anderson.”
“I was literally texting with (Anderson) last night, saying, ‘Hey man, it’s time and we need you,’ and he’s having a good summer,” Beamer said. “We need him to continue to certainly come along.”
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Gamecock Fans Are Already Debating Nikes New Garnet Look
South Carolinas switch from Under Armour to Nike has done more than change the logo on the sideline gear. It has also nudged the Gamecocks trademark garnet into a new look, one that fans have already noticed as the school settles into its new apparel partnership. Nike works with its own internal color teams rather than matching every school shade exactly, so South Carolinas distinctive Pantone 202 is now showing up in a version that is a touch different from what the program has worn before.
The change is subtle in some places and more noticeable in others, especially on garnet cotton T-shirts, where the color can read a little lighter than the standard Gamecock look. South Carolina athletic director Jeremiah Donati said matching the schools color across different materials is always a challenge, and the department is happy with where Nike has landed. Even so, when a fan base cares as much about garnet as South Carolinas does, a small shift in shade is enough to get people talking. [Read more 🡒]
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Torrian Gray and the rest of the secondary staff played a meaningful role in Dobsons decision, and South Carolina also backed that pitch with a serious financial commitment. What makes this one stand out is how far the Gamecocks pushed to close the deal, especially with Texas A&M long viewed as the team to beat before Dobson ultimately chose Columbia. [Read more 🡒]