Can South Carolina’s Offensive Line Grow Tough Enough in 2025 to Power a Resurgence in the Trenches and On Scoreboard?
The 2024 season was anything but smooth for the South Carolina Gamecocks’ offensive line. A group long known for its inconsistency and lack of depth took center stage in ways it never hoped for—often as the unit struggling to keep the offense afloat. With protection breakdowns, injuries, and underperformance plaguing the front five, South Carolina was unable to find rhythm or physical dominance in the trenches, which in turn put tremendous pressure on the backfield and limited the passing game. However, as the program turns the page to 2025, there is cautious optimism in Columbia that the offensive line might be primed to take a significant step forward—one that could change the trajectory of the team’s entire offense.
Improvement starts with continuity, and for once, that seems to be trending in the right direction. South Carolina returns a core group of offensive linemen with substantial starting experience. Gone are the days of patchwork lineups featuring freshmen forced into action before they were physically ready. The 2025 group boasts a mix of veterans who have seen SEC action, second-year players with real upside, and a few transfers who could provide much-needed reinforcement. That kind of blend—experience, youth, and external talent—could be the recipe the Gamecocks need to re-establish themselves in the trenches.
The most important piece in this puzzle may be the coaching staff’s faith in developing linemen who are already in the system. This year’s returning offensive linemen know the playbook, have SEC-level game reps, and more importantly, understand the physical and mental demands required to succeed in college football’s most brutal conference. Head coach Shane Beamer and offensive line coach Lonnie Teasley have both emphasized that the 2025 offseason has been about technique, discipline, and cohesion. Spring practices were built around mastering assignments, improving footwork, and enhancing communication between the line and quarterback—details that too often cost the Gamecocks dearly in 2024.
But perhaps the biggest difference heading into 2025 is physical development. South Carolina’s strength and conditioning staff, led by Luke Day, has emphasized a renewed focus on functional strength and flexibility for linemen. Several returning players have put on quality weight, while others have trimmed down to improve mobility and stamina. That transformation is critical in a league where even the slightest lapse in leverage or speed can mean the difference between a touchdown and a sack.
While development is essential, so too is health—something the Gamecocks sorely lacked in 2024. It’s no secret that a string of injuries decimated the offensive line rotation last season. This year, with better depth and offseason training methods designed to reduce soft tissue injuries, there’s cautious optimism that the line can stay healthier, longer. Depth charts show promising young linemen who, while maybe not ready to start, are capable of filling in when needed—unlike last year, where the drop-off was significant after the starters.
South Carolina’s offensive scheme could also be a factor that helps the line take a step forward. With Dowell Loggains entering his second full season as offensive coordinator, the system is expected to be more cohesive. In 2024, it often felt like the line and skill players were out of sync—run plays stalled before they started, and pass protection broke down before routes developed. In 2025, Loggains is expected to streamline the offense, focusing on quicker reads, balanced run-pass options, and plays designed to get the ball out of the quarterback’s hands faster. Those changes are not just cosmetic—they’re meant to make life easier for the offensive line.
Personnel-wise, there are several names that give Gamecock fans reason for hope. At left tackle, redshirt junior Tree Babalade is expected to anchor the blind side again. Babalade had flashes of brilliance last season, especially in pass protection, and he’s now stronger, smarter, and more vocal. Opposite him, tackle prospect Trovon Baugh, who played as a freshman, returns with a full offseason of development and film study. His toughness and willingness to compete give the staff confidence he can become a reliable starter.
Inside, the guard positions are more open, but competition has raised the level of play. Transfers like Ja’Kobi Albert and returning veterans such as Nick Gargiulo and Cason Henry have been battling throughout spring and summer. The coaching staff has not handed out starting roles lightly—each position will be earned, and that has sharpened focus across the unit. The center position, which was a revolving door at times last season, now looks to be solidified with veteran Hank Weber or emerging talent Markee Anderson competing to lock it down.
Perhaps more than anything, the success of the offensive line in 2025 may hinge on confidence. Last year, the group often looked tentative, unsure of assignments, and hesitant to fire off the ball. That kind of hesitation is deadly in the SEC, where defensive linemen feast on indecision. But the 2025 line seems to carry itself differently. The veterans speak about being a unit—an identity that was lacking last fall. They have developed chemistry off the field, and according to coaches, that has translated to better communication on it.
The schedule won’t be forgiving, of course. The Gamecocks face a grueling slate, with road games at Georgia and Oklahoma, and tough home matchups against Alabama and Kentucky. If this offensive line isn’t ready to compete at a higher level, they’ll be exposed quickly. But those same games present an opportunity—to prove that South Carolina is no longer an easy win on the line of scrimmage. If the group can hold its own against top-tier defenses, it could be the kind of season-altering development that powers the Gamecocks back into contention for a bowl game.
It’s also worth noting the ripple effects a stronger offensive line could have. A cleaner pocket means better quarterback play. It allows receivers time to separate. It gives running backs lanes to work with, reducing the number of negative plays. And it helps control tempo, sustain drives, and wear down opposing defenses. Football may be a game of stars and schemes, but everything starts up front. And for South Carolina, it’s that foundational truth that gives 2025 so much promise.
Quarterback play will also be critical in allowing the line to succeed. While the offensive line was often at fault in 2024, it’s also true that the quarterback held the ball too long at times or failed to shift protections at the line. Better synergy between the quarterback and linemen could be a game-changer. Whether it’s LaNorris Sellers, Dante Reno, or another signal-caller under center, their ability to manage pressure, execute quick reads, and protect the football will help the offensive line more than any blocking drill.
There are no guarantees in the SEC. Development can be undone by one key injury. A promising unit can regress under the weight of expectations. But South Carolina has taken steps—real, tangible steps—to ensure that 2025’s offensive line will be more than just an improvement from last year. They want to be a strength. A weapon. A reason this team wins games, not loses them.
If the pieces fall into place—the health, the technique, the coaching, and the chemistry—then yes, the Gamecocks’ offensive line can absolutely take a step forward in 2025. And if they do, the entire offense could follow, setting the stage for a much more competitive, balanced, and explosive brand of football in Columbia.
