Travelle Wharton joins Gamecocks football staff

Travelle Wharton, who starred at left tackle for South Carolina from 2000-2003 and went on to an 11-year NFL career, is a Gamecock again, South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier announced via Twitter on Wednesday.

Wharton will be offensive quality-control coach for the 2015 season. Wharton, a Simpsonville native who retired from the NFL following the 2013 season, could be on the practice field as soon as Thursday, Spurrier told The State.

Wharton started 45 games for South Carolina before being drafted in the third round of the 2004 draft by the Carolina Panthers. He started as a rookie for the Panthers and was a mainstay on the offensive line for the next eight seasons. After a brief stint with the Cincinnati Bengals, most of which was spent on injured reserve due to a knee injury, Wharton rejoined the Panthers for the 2013 season before retiring from the NFL.

The Gamecocks have bolstered their coaching support staff this season, naming Grady Brown and Shaq Wilson defensive quality control coaches and Brian Turk and Scott Spurrier offensive quality control coaches.

I want to welcome former Gamecock O-Lineman @TravelleWharton to the South Carolina Coaching Staff as an OL Quality Control Coach.

— Coach Steve Spurrier (@SC_HBC) March 18, 2015

This story was originally published March 18, 2015 at 12:25 PM with the headline "Travelle Wharton joins Gamecocks football staff."