Through 11 practices, competition at wide receiver continues to crank up for South Carolina.
With more than 50 percent of scholarship wideouts being new this season for the Gamecocks, to say the top-six spots at WR are wide open is an understatement.
While there are still 12 more practices to go, I’ve noticed as of late that the same names at wide receiver are continuing to come up in conversations that I’ve been having this camp with team sources. Below, in no particular order, are the six names at wide receiver that I’ve been hearing the most buzz about midway through fall camp.
Gage Larvadain
The biggest word that keeps being used about Larvadain so far is “consistency.” He’s not doing anything too flashy but he’s a guy that has quickly picked up the playbook and just has a knack for getting open and catching the football. This shouldn’t surprise anyone after impressing the coaching staff in the spring.
Vandrevius Jacobs
Despite not joining South Carolina until over the summer, Jacobs is quickly turning heads. As one source told me, “He’s long, with speed, and had done a really nice job of creating separation with his routes.” Despite not playing in last week’s scrimmage, as Wes Mitchell mentioned , if the season were to start today, Jacobs very well could find his way into the lineup as a starter.
Dalevon Campbell
The Nevada transfer has flashed as a deep ball threat, thanks in part to his size, while also being a “physical” receiver. Despite not being with the team in the spring, his experience and natural talents have allowed him to quickly make a positive impression. While multiple wide receivers have been rotating in with the ones, Cambpell continues to see his fair share of reps with the starters. With the competition continuing to heat up in that room, I’m told that if Cambpell continues to perform well, he too could find himself in the starting lineup come Week 1.
Mazeo Bennett
“Advanced for his age” and “a quick learner” are two things a team source has told me what’s been standing out about the true freshman from Greenville, SC. He has an ability to not only get open but he also understands the why when it comes to running his routes. That’s a skillset that some younger receivers struggle to pick up early in their college careers. Mix all of things together and it’s allowed Bennett to be one of the more consistent wideouts so far in camp for the Gamecocks.
Luke Doty
Are there more athletic wide receivers than Doty? Yes. But all indications have been that Doty is having a strong camp. His background as a quarterback has allowed him to put himself in situations where he can be a “security blanket,” as one source told me, which has helped both LaNorris Sellers and Robby Ashford out greatly. “Doty’s familiarity with the offense as a quarterback has led to the offense being able to make something happen when a play breaks down. He just knows where to go and knows what the quarterback is thinking.” Whether Doty is one of South Carolina’s top-six wideouts for Week 1 or not, he’s been making a case this camp as to why he deserve to be on the field.
Jared Brown
The word on Brown is that he’s been “reliable” and “consistent.” But with his dynamic skillset and speed, he’s also demonstrated that he “can be flashy at times.” I’m told that one of the biggest adjustment for Brown is not having an offense that necessarily goes through him. At Coastal, Brown wasn’t only Grayson McCall’s go-to target, he was also featured in the backfield at times as well. While I’m told that South Carolina does have plans to line him up at multiple spots on the field, the offense won’t be dictated just on him. At least not at this time.
Where’s Nyck Harbor?
Instead of not addressing the elephant in the room, I’ll just say it. From everything I’ve been told, it’s not as if Harbor is having a bad camp but it’s just that other players have been looking more consistent. He’s just not one of the names that have been mentioned as much compared to some of the other wide outs listed above. Now, even though this report has Harbor on the outside looking in on being one of South Carolina’s top six wide receivers to begin the year, do I believe that will be the case? No. Unless Harbor struggles to catch the football consistently, he’ll find a way onto the field. This is just my personal opinion, but I expect the Gamecocks to do whatever they can to get his elite speed and height out on offense, even if it requires it to be a work in progress.
The post What we’re hearing: Six WRs who’ve been standing out in camp so far for South Carolina appeared first on On3 .
Local News
Comments / 0