South Carolina football: top performers through three games
By Jacob Elsey
South Carolina football’s top performers
OFF – Josh Vann
South Carolina was unsteady at wideout coming into the year. Leading receiver Shi Smith left for the NFL and no returning player on the roster had tallied more than 115 receiving yards the year prior. The Gamecocks were unsure who would take over as the team’s No. 1 option as they seemed destined to rely on tight ends and running backs to move the ball through the air.
Then Josh Vann entered the chat.
Vann has easily been the best player on offense to this point. The senior wide receiver has created big plays in the passing game and leads the team in both yardage and touchdown receptions. Through three games, Vann ranks fourth in the SEC in receiving and is averaging an absurd 28.2 yards per catch.
Vann has gotten better with the competition, too. After recording just two catches for 27 yards in the opener against Eastern Illinois, he’s tallied back-to-back 125-yard performances versus East Carolina and Georgia. On the year, he’s hauled in 10 passes for 282 yards and a pair of scores.
Vann entered the year a relative unknown. He came to South Carolina four seasons ago as a four-star player, but he never got things going under the previous staff. Under Shane Beamer’s leadership, though, Vann has emerged as the offense’s best overall player. He’s making impact plays each game, and is the team’s greatest deep threat.
Expect his confidence to continue growing as the year rolls on. If he keeps up this type of production, an NFL selection could be in his near future.