Unlike many assistant coaches in their first season at a new school, South Carolina offensive line coach Greg Adkins arrives in Columbia inheriting a talented unit with plenty of experience on the field together.

The Gamecocks return four starters from an offensive line that cleared the way for running back Kevin Harris to rush for 1,138 yards (that total led the SEC in regular-season rushing yards in 2020) and 15 touchdowns last fall.

Now having to replace just left guard Sadarius Hutcherson in the starting lineup while adjusting to a new offensive scheme, the team’s new OL coach was asked if any players have stood out at practice.

The name provided? Redshirt sophomore, Vinny Murphy.

“I’ll tell you who I like, I like what Vinny Murphy is doing. I really do,” Adkins said on Monday. “He’s a guy working his tail off. He’s playing center and guard right now.

“I like what he’s doing – as a guy that no one knows about, right? Because he hasn’t played. I like what he’s doing right now if I were to single one guy out that probably none of you have heard that much about.”

If you aren’t familiar with the name, Murphy has appeared in just three games during his college career after playing for Florida powerhouse high school program, St. Thomas Aquinas High in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Based on what Adkins shared on Monday, if Murphy continues to work hard this offseason, don’t be surprised if he’s the one that steps up to replace Hutcherson in the starting lineup this fall when South Carolina openers the season against Eastern Illinois.