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Freshman D-lineman a ‘really pleasant surprise’ for Gamecocks staff

South Carolina’s defensive line position remains precarious.

Only three scholarship players are past sophomore eligibility, at a spot coach Will Muschamp and defensive line coach Lance Thompson will swear up and down is a “developmental position.” That means true freshman end Aaron Sterling should get playing time in 2017.

He fits the top qualification.

“With the numbers we’ve got, you’ve just got to be a football player a little bit,” Thompson said. “And he’s a football player.”

The 6-foot-1, 240 pounder from Tucker High School in Atlanta was among the slew of first-year players Will Muschamp promised would play this season.