Long before Mazeo Bennett arrived at South Carolina, Shane Beamer was already well aware of what type of player he would eventually be getting.
Back when Bennett was still being recruited by the Gamecocks, he and Greenville High School competed in a 7-on-7 camp in Columbia. Beamer, in attendance, watched on as his future wide receiver went to work.
“Just the competitive spirit that he played with,” Beamer said on what stood out that day. “It was kind of like a switch flipped and a light came on and he just hit another gear when he’s out there competing. I saw that that day at 7-on-7 and then I’ve seen that since he’s come down here as well.”
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Now at South Carolina, he’s quickly impressing as a young guy in a receiver room with many older players. So much so that Beamer expects him to make an early impact this season.
“He’s very smart, he knows what to do, he’s accountable and he makes plays,” he said. “He’s going to play next Saturday, and he’s going to play a lot next Saturday.”
It’s not exactly clear at the moment what Bennett’s role will look like. But what is clear is that he will be seeing a good bit of playing time when South Carolina opens the season against Old Dominion next Saturday.
As for what to potentially expect, Bennett has big plans for himself this year, even as a first-year player. When he gets his opportunities, he expects good things to happen on the field.
“Just being an all-around player, not just being able to go run routes, but being able to make a play when the ball is in my hands as well,” the freshman receiver said. “Having that dog mentality, I feel like I say that a lot, but it’s true. I feel like that’s definitely a good attribute.”
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Coming out of high school, Bennett was a four-star recruit and one of the key pieces in the program’s 2024 recruiting class. In a three-year prep career, he caught 103 passes for 2,059 yards and 23 touchdowns, averaging 20 yards per reception. He also rushed for 559 yards with 17 touchdowns and returned kickoffs for 1,136 yards, something he’s been doing in fall camp.
“It’s definitely been an adjustment coming from high school, for sure,” he said. “Being able to come here to an SEC program, unlike any other, cause you’ve got guys that transferred from other SEC schools. The things that we do here, I think it gives us a great competitive advantage going into this season.”
By no means is Bennett the biggest receiver you’ll see, only standing at 5-foot-11, 180 pounds. But don’t let his lack of size fool you. This dog has a lot of bite and is ready to take his game to the next level.
“I feel like the goal that anybody should have is to dominate. Everybody wants to dominate but also be a good teammate at the end of the day,” Bennett said. “If you do what you’re supposed to do, it’s going to show on that field as well. But being a good guy that people want to be around every day, I feel like that’s the biggest thing.”
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