Veteran tackle acquired to settle the most important spot on South Carolina's line. Peak brings multi-year Power-4 experience from NC State and projects as a day-one starter on an SEC edge — the plug-in-vet profile whose value is proven snaps rather than upside projection, with EA's ratings crew even slotting him among the game's top-10 tackles for whatever preseason shorthand is worth. However, this evaluation carries two honest asterisks. Linemen do not generate box scores, so the grade leans on role, durability and reputation rather than charted production; and he is rehabbing an offseason injury — suffered in a team activity Shane Beamer had to publicly defend — with a September readiness target. Reports have him ahead of schedule. If he is healthy and holds up against SEC speed off the edge, the Day 3 track firms up quickly; a redshirt senior who misses camp reps has no margin for a slow October.