Will Muschamp names Gamecocks starter at center, but another line spot still cloudy
The center of South Carolina’s offense has been locked in.
USC football coach Will Muschamp named redshirt junior Eric Douglas the Gamecocks’ starting center on Sunday, ending a position battle that was one of the offensive line’s main concerns heading into preseason camp.
“Eric Douglas is our starter,” Muschamp stated on a call with reporters Sunday evening. “ ... Eric’s right now really positioned himself from a leadership standpoint, from getting us in and out of the right calls. He’s had a really solid camp for us.”
Behind Douglas, redshirt sophomore Hank Manos and redshirt freshman Vincent Murphy are battling for the backup job, while freshman Vershon Lee will also get a look there in the next week of practice, Muschamp said.
Before this camp, Douglas had primarily played at guard for USC — he has appeared in 21 career games over two seasons, including one start at right guard in the 2019 season opener against North Carolina. He has also backed up the tackle spot.
He’ll take over for the graduated Donell Stanley, who stepped in and solidified the center spot last season after Manos got the start but played poorly against UNC. Douglas was also benched after that game.
Throughout most of fall camp, Muschamp has said Douglas has held down the center spot on the line, making Sunday’s announcement not too much of a surprise.
Veterans Sadarius Hutcherson and Dylan Wonnum will almost certainly join Douglas starting on the offensive line, with Hutcherson seemingly locked in at one of the guard spots.
But where exactly Wonnum will wind up is unclear, as Muschamp said Sunday that he would be “hesitant” to name a full starting unit.
Specifically, Muschamp said that Wonnum has worked at both tackle spots. At the same time, junior college transfer Jazston Turnetine has worked at left tackle, while sophomore Jaylen Nichols and redshirt freshman Jakai Moore have gotten time at right tackle. Behind them, Muschamp said, Lee is currently the team’s fifth tackle.
“Those are the guys that we’re looking at, and we need more consistency at that position,” Muschamp said.
This story was originally published September 6, 2020 at 7:09 PM.
