South Carolina offensive line coach Eric Wolford made the broad claim that there’s a “growing concern” about the lack of quality players at the position he coaches. Count him in the group of coaches who is uneasy, but he’s also one looking to solve the problem.

Wolford, in his second stint with the Gamecocks, is focused on finding the best athletes he can who are willing to play the position and then develop them from there. His strategy is evident in recruiting as he has targeted guys who are athletic enough to play on the defensive line but willing to come play on his side of the ball.

He’s also taken some players with a high upside that are going to take a bit of time to learn the position.

“There’s a growing concern among us O-line coaches, people in general and in the NFL all the time (about) the lack of quality offensive linemen and being able to develop them,” Wolford said. “That’s a big thing that I try to work on is developing players. You have to continue to find athletes who can move their feet, want to compete and find a way to get the job done. That’s what we’re all constantly searching for.”

There are already three offensive linemen committed in the 2019 class - offensive tackles Mark Fox and Jaylen Nichols along with center Vincent Murphy. Nichols has been recruited by schools as a defensive lineman as well.

Wolford signed five offensive linemen last year, including three - center Hank Manos, guard Wyatt Campbell and tackle Maxwell Iyama - who are early enrollees. Guard Jovaughn Gwyn and tackle Dylan Wonnum will enroll this summer.

His first recruiting class, which was an abbreviated one given his January hire, included five players. Jordon Carty and Jordan Rhodes were the only two who committed to Wolford, but both were targets of former offensive line coach Shawn Elliott.

“You have to have quick feet and the ability to bend,” Wolford said of what he looks for in recruits. “You want to be a guy who has length, the ability to change direction and ability to anchor. When I say anchor, that means not getting pushed back in the pocket. That’s your fastest way to be on the bench; you can’t get pushed back into the quarterback.”

Building a top-flight offensive line is a difficult task, especially in the Southeastern Conference. The league is known for defensive linemen, which obviously means the job on the O-line is much more difficult.

Wolford admits that dominant offensive lines are very much a rarity, which is evidenced by last year’s national championship game.

“When you watch the national championship game, you saw two teams struggle to block each team’s defensive linemen,” Wolford said. “Those are supposedly the best two teams in college football playing each other and neither one could really block the other team’s defensive line. It’s a growing concern.”

Wolford scoffed at the notion there any rules needed to be tweaked to give offensive linemen a better chance to protect their quarterback or open running lanes. He insisted “the field is level” when it comes to offensive linemen versus defensive linemen.

In fact, he liked the way his offensive line competed against the defensive line in spring practice.

“We have to continue find ways to develop players and get them to match up better,” Wolford said. “They get you in five one-on-ones a lot, the defense by scheme. They’ll find your scab, find your wart and keep picking at it until you find a way to be able to help that guy. If you’re in five one-on-ones, you can’t even find a way to get him help.”

It’s hard to cover those warts, and the only way to get rid of them is by developing players.