‘Freak of nature’: Potential position change might plug last open spot in USC line
Eric Douglas knows a thing or two about playing multiple positions for the South Carolina football team’s offensive line. After all, he’s able to play five of five.
It seems for the moment, the versatile utility man is set to start at center for the Gamecocks, but one of his teammates might be on the move.
Jordan Rhodes isn’t even fully up to speed after opting out of the season with COVID-19 concerns before reversing course and deciding to return to the roster in the midst of camp. But Gamecocks coach Will Muschamp said the staff plans to try the former starting guard at tackle to fill a gap in the line.
And Douglas thinks he’ll thrive anywhere he goes in.
“Jordan Rhodes, he’s a freak of nature,” Douglas said. “He’s just a mismatch. Wherever you plug him in on the O-line, he’s a mismatch. He’s going to grind it out. He’s going to make sure when he gets his hands on you, you’re not getting off.”
The Gamecocks have four of five line spots set, with Dylan Wonnum locked into one tackle spot, Douglas at center and Sadarius Hutchinson (last year’s left tackle) and Jovaughn Gwyn at guard. Gwyn and Rhodes started the vast majority of the games at guard last season, but one was going to have to step back with Hutcherson returning to his natural position.
But now the tackle potential opens things up. Jazston Turnetine was penciled in at left tackle, but he hasn’t been consistent this summer and that kept different possibilities alive.
“Jordan Rhodes did some really nice things,” Muschamp said. “Coming back, we got to get him in shape and been able to sustain, but he’s got 36 inch arms, he’s got power in his body. We’re gonna look at him at right tackle a little bit this week. We had looked at that in some pass rush situations this past week.”
The coach also noted that beyond Turnetine, sophomores Jaylen Nichols and Jakai Moore and even true freshman Vershon Lee were players the staff was considering at various tackle spots. Wonnum can play both sides, so it just depends on whose skills fit where.
Rhodes joining the starting lineup actually came when Douglas exited. After a tough opener for the line, Donell Stanley was shifted from guard to center, and Rhodes and Gwyn stepped in at guard.
The 6-foot-4, 325-pound Rhodes, Rhoady to teammates and coaches, faced some of the ups and downs of a new lineman, holding his own in the run but occasionally having issues in pass blocking.
But after a year in the fire, the staff seems to think enough of the Georgia product to give him the chance to complete South Carolina’s group up front. And opt out or not, he’s impressing.
“I could talk all day about Jordan Rhodes,” Douglas said. “Jordan Rhodes is a monster. He was out for a month. He came back to practice, like he was still doing summer workouts. He came back, he’s an animal.”
