Man on a mission: Oft-injured Mike Matulis the X-factor on Gamecocks' OL

After two shoulder surgeries and a torn ACL, one might consider other options rather than take the continuous beating associated with being an offensive lineman in the SEC.

Not South Carolina’s Mike Matulis, the wild-haired and tattooed freak of a fifth-year blocker for assistant coach Shawn Elliott and the Gamecocks next season.

He’s been a relative unknown nationally over the last three seasons after starring as a true freshman All-American with five starts during the 2011 campaign as a near instant impact player on South Carolina’s first-ever 11-win team.

Injuries have derailed the former three-star prospect’s seismic start in college, but Matulis is still kicking heading into his finale and could start at any of four positions along the offensive front this fall.

“In an ideal situation, somebody is going to write a book about him,” Elliott said after a recent practice. “He’s going to come back and have a great year. He’s going to lead us to a championship. Everyone is going to say, ‘He was written off at some point.’ He had two shoulder surgeries, a torn ACL and he comes back his senior year and does something unbelievable. That’s the ideal scenario and situation for him.”

Matulis graduated in December and has missed all of spring practice nursing his latest ailment, a knee injury that forced him to miss most of last season.

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Battle-tested and one of the SEC’s best when he’s at full strength, the Boynton Beach, Fla., native is arguably the Gamecocks’ most important blocker this fall if he can provide quality reps on a unit replacing All-American guard A.J. Cann and tackle Corey Robinson.

With Brandon Shell back to man one of the tackle spots and the combo of Cody Waldrop and Will Sport listed at guard, Matulis will go head-to-head in fall camp with Mason Zandi for the other tackle opening. Zandi’s had an excellent spring and has taken advantage of Matulis on the sideline as the first-team left tackle.

Billed as the strongest offensive front during Steve Spurrier’s tenure heading into the 2014 campaign, the Gamecocks underachieved by most accounts, giving up 27 total sacks and an average of 5.4 tackles behind the line of scrimmage every game.

Those numbers could improve if Alan Knott works out at center and the Gamecocks get consistent play from their guards. Matulis has All-SEC potential if he stays healthy and provides an instant depth boost at multiple positions even if he doesn’t regain a starting spot.

Gamecocks’ remaining spring schedule