Shane Beamer Says Freshman OT Markee Anderson "Will Play This Year"
It is not often you see a true freshman get playing time as an offensive lineman, but it seems one Gamecock will up-end that notion this upcoming season. During Head Coach Shane Beamer's media availability on his Greenville stop of his Welcome Home Tour, Beamer praised true freshman Markee Anderson, who grew up just 40 minutes away from Greenville.
Anderson has been touted as one of the top performers during the Gamecocks' spring practices, and his efforts are paying off. Talking to the press, Beamer said that Anderson 'will play this year.' The Gamecocks have been exploring many options to fill the gaps in the offensive line, so it is no surprise to see Anderson already being given a chance.
Anderson praised Anderson's football IQ, saying 'he's really, really smart from a football standpoint and academic standpoint.' If there's one trait that can help a lineman see the field early, it's a high football IQ, which has been one of Anderson's strengths since high school.
Though he played tackle in high school, Anderson has been shifted to guard with the Gamecocks, specifically left guard. At the moment, transfer addition Nick Gargiulo, a consistent starter in 2022 with Yale, is expected to take over as left guard. Learning behind Gargiulo could do wonders for Anderson, who could be looked upon to play significant snaps in year one.
It will be interesting to see how much playing time the former four-star receives as a true freshman. With how much he has been turning heads since arriving on campus in January, there is a chance he can become a stalwart on the line in just his first collegiate season.
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