Earlier this week Gamecock great and current Carolina Panthers offensive lineman Travelle Wharton made the quick trip back to campus from Charlotte. He spent much of the day at the football office talking X's and O's with coaches, including O-line coach Shawn Elliott, then came out to practice Tuesday afternoon. The 6'4", 312-pounder from Fountain Inn, SC, is preparing for his eighth season with the Carolina Panthers after being drafted by the Charlotte-based squad in the 2004 NFL Draft. Wharton has been a key member of the Panthers' offensive line at both left guard and left tackle since his rookie season in '04, starting all 83 games in which he has played. Wharton was a four-year starter on the offensive line for South Carolina and a team captain for his All-SEC senior season in 2003. I was an Athletic Training Student with Gamecock football for that '03 season with many fond memories of Wharton and the entire team, so it was fun to catch up with him for a few minutes.
While the NFL and its players continue labor negotiations and the league is in a lockout, Wharton says he will continue to stay in shape working out and rehabbing a toe injury that forced him to miss the last seven games of the 2010 season.
"As soon as a deal gets done we're right back in it, business as usual, so I'm just staying close by, working out, getting prepared," he said. "I'm already off routine because we're usually already starting offseason programs right now. I was fortunate enough they allowed me to come down here to spend the day and ask me back, it's always good to get in the mix on this side of it."
Talking with Wharton and watching him easily and naturally interact with our current players at practice prompted the obvious question - any interest in coaching after his playing days are over?
"I have fun with it, sharing some knowledge with those young guys," he said. "That's what guys did for me so I'm trying to return it. I would love to get into coaching."
Asked if any of the current Gamecocks remind him of himself as a player, Wharton said, "of course I like the offensive line. I'm always going to gravitate towards those guys, same type demeanor, hard working. Seeing Coach Elliott work with those guys, it's exciting seeing them soak it all in and trying to be better."
Wharton said he hasn't been able to attend as many games as he might like the past few years with his own playing schedule, but that he tries to watch the Gamecocks on TV as much as possible. He hopes to be able to get back for a few more practices this spring as well as the spring game with his schedule being pretty flexible at the moment. Wharton noted that he feels lucky to be nearby.
"Being so close to home has really been great. I could've been on the other side of the country. I'm a Carolina guy so staying here is great."
Wharton and his wife, Kashema (also a Carolina alum), have three beautiful daughters, ages five years, 18 months, and one month.
"[My daughters] are my little shadows," said Wharton. "We're big into Disney channel right now. Big shouts out to Disney...I'm just here for the day and I'm getting blown up with my little girls calling me, I'm already missing something."
- Brittany Lane
*Picture courtesy of Panthers.com*
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