Signing Day 2023: Gamecock Targets Nyck Harbor, Elijah Caldwell, Zavion Hardy
By Kevin Miller
What used to be college football’s busiest non-game day of the year, National Signing Day has been split into two periods highlighted by Early Signing Day (December 21st this past year) and National Signing Day. The classic National Signing Day will be held on Wednesday, February 1st. While a larger number of high school and junior college athletes have started taking advantage of Early Signing Day, there are still numerous high-level prospects making their college choices known on Wednesday’s Signing Day.
For the South Carolina football program, almost the entire class signed National Letters of Intent during the Early Signing Period. Three known targets for the Gamecocks’ 2023 class will be signing their NLIs on Wednesday, all with three different probabilities of signing with Head Coach Shane Beamer and the Gamecocks.
Rock Hill native Elijah Caldwell is seen as a lock to sign with the Gamecocks, as he just committed last week to Wide Receivers Coach Justin Stepp. A three-star receiver who specializes in running crisp routes and using his impressive football IQ to gain advantages against defensive backs, Caldwell is set to sign his NLI on Wednesday.
Zavion Hardy is a four-star defensive end from Georgia who has been a long-term commitment to the Gamecocks. There has been some uncertainty surrounding Hardy’s status with the NCAA Clearing House and his admission into the University of South Carolina, but according to his own Twitter account, he will be signing on Wednesday. It is unclear if Hardy will sign with South Carolina or another program.
One of the highest-rated prospects without a public commitment is Washington DC’s Nyckoles Harbor. Harbor’s recruitment has been a wild ride to follow for fans of the schools involved, but the 6’5”, 230 pound WR/TE/DE is a can’t-miss prospect due to his Olympic-level sprint speed. A five-star high school athlete who will also run track in college, Harbor is considering South Carolina, Oregon, Michigan, Maryland, and Miami and all five destinations have received recruiting experts’ predictions that they will nab Harbor. Harbor is set to make his announcement on Wednesday at 1:00 PM EST, aired live on ESPN.
On Signing Day, GarnetandCocky.com and the Garnet and Cocky page on the FanSided App will have player profiles for every player in South Carolina’s 2023 recruiting class, including players from the transfer portal.