South Carolina Gamecocks 2015 Position Preview: Wide Receivers
Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
One of the big questions heading into the 2015 football season for the South Carolina Gamecocks was who would step up alongside Pharoh Cooper at wide receiver? After seeing Shaq Roland officially leave the team during the offseason, the Gamecocks were left with no proven experience outside of Cooper. The search for help has turned up some interesting results so far this offseason.
On August 28, Gamecock fans got some answers from wide receiver coach Steve Spurrier Jr. He stated that the other 2 starters in the three receiver set would be Deebo Samuel and Carlton Heard. The second team consisted of Shamier Jeffrey, Matrick Belton, and Terry Googer.
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“Those six guys and then there will be a couple of freshmen ready to rotate around, but for the most part, those six guys should get the most action,” Spurrier Jr. said. “There is one guy (Cooper) qualified to play as many snaps as he wants. Everybody else is on a snap-to-snap basis.”
It may come as a shock to most fans that one walk-on and one former walk-on have made the two deep at wide receiver for the Gamecocks. In recent years, the Gamecocks have seemed to have great success in attracting wide receiver talent on the recruiting trail. Spurrier Jr. also boasts an impressive list of putting wide receivers in the NFL during Spurrier’s tenure. Kenny McKinley, Alshon Jeffery, Sidney Rice, Ace Sanders, Bruce Ellington, and most recently Damiere Byrd are a few of the highlights.
Inexperience is the true concern at wide receiver, and inexperience is what has given the two walk-ons their moment to shine.
Next: Pharoh Cooper