Former South Carolina starting lineman to enter transfer portal
South Carolina redshirt sophomore offensive lineman Tree Babalade is hitting the transfer portal, according to a report from On3’s Pete Nakos. He plans to enter the portal when the transfer window opens on January 2nd.
Babalade, an on-again, off-again starter for the Gamecock offensive line, earned playing time in 22 overall games across three seasons. He started 15 contests, splitting time between both left tackle and right tackle.
The 6-5, 330-pound blocker was a four-star prospect out of DeMatha Catholic during the 2023 recruiting cycle. Because of a redshirt in 2024, Babalade will have two years of eligibility remaining in college.
Babalade is one of four offensive linemen with starting experience transferring from the South Carolina football program. He joins interior linemen Nick Sharpe and Trovon Baugh and tackle Cason Henry as expected transfers.
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Tree Babalade GamecocksOnline Bio
2024 SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll
Fourth-year offensive lineman who has gained considerable experience over the past three seasons, appearing in 22 career games with 15 starts… has some position flexibility… was a starter at left tackle as a true freshman in 2023… redshirted in 2024… saw most of his work at right tackle in 2025… given name is Oluwatosin but prefers to go by Tree.
2025 (Redshirt Sophomore)
Began the season as a backup but moved into the starting lineup at mid-season following an injury to Cason Henry… appeared in seven games, all in succession, from Game 3 against Vanderbilt to Game 9 against Ole Miss… started five-consecutive games at right tackle against Kentucky, LSU, Oklahoma, Alabama and Ole Miss.
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2024 (Sophomore)
Appeared in four games while keeping his redshirt… made one start… played in each of the first two contests against Old Dominion and Kentucky in a reserve role then sat out the next six games… inserted into the lineup at Vanderbilt following an injury to left tackle Josiah Thompson then was the starter at that position against Missouri… named to the SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll.
2023 (Freshman)
True freshman who played in 11 contests, starting nine… moved into the starting lineup at the left tackle position in Week 3 and held that role for the remainder of the season… named the 247Sports’ True Freshman of the Week after posting a 90 PFF pass-blocking grade, the fourth-best among all offensive tackles in his starting debut at Georgia.
HIGH SCHOOL
Graduated from DeMatha Catholic High School in Maryland in 2023 where he played left tackle… helped the Stags to a 10-2 record and a spot in the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference Capital Division championship game as a senior… coached by Bill McGregor… rated as the fourth-best player in Maryland, the 19th-best offensive tackle in the country and No. 227 overall by 247Sports Composite… considered the fourth-best player in Maryland, the No. 16 offensive tackle in the nation and No. 217 overall in the On3 Consensus… ranked as the seventh-best player in the state, the 11th-best offensive tackle in the nation and No. 264 on the ESPN300.
PERSONAL
Oluwatosin N. Babalade was born Sept. 13, 2004… is a psychology major.