Tree Babalade looks back on 2023, forward to year 2
Tree Babalade figured that he would likely take a redshirt during his first season in a South Carolina uniform.
Instead, the former four-star prospect out of Dematha Catholic (Maryland) ended up starting the third game of the year.
He got the nod at the most difficult position to play on the offensive line – left tackle – against what was at the time the top program in the country.
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“I didn’t think i was going to touch the field, to be honest,” Babalade said during a Garnet Trust sponsored interview. “It was great I started. That really shocked me. Played against a lot of talent.”
Thinking back to the hostile atmosphere on the road in Athens, Babalade admits that there were some jitters.
“I was very nervous, but I think after a few snaps I was like, OK, I can do this. I could get the hang of it,” he said.
His performance as a first-year player against Georgia turned some heads. Babalade believes he “really struggled” against Missouri and Tennessee but that he will be better for it in the future.
“First year, I learned a lot. I’ve seen a lot of defensive (linemen),” he explained. “I feel like the more I see them, I feel like I’ll be able to use it to my advantage next year, my second year.”
South Carolina’s football team is now back on the field and in the weight room going through offseason strength and conditioning.
After a postseason break back home, Babalade is excited to get going.
The sports management major said that he has two primary goals, one on the individual front and one for the team.
He wants to get into better shape prior to the kickoff of spring practice, and wants everyone on the South Carolina squad to become even more tight-knit.
“Everybody’s just happy to see each other,” he said. “And I just feel like the more we just keep pushing each other in the weight room and in the classroom, I feel like everything will just be good when we get on the field. We’re all trying to get better, trying to get stronger and faster.”
