The South Carolina football program has put together one of their top recruiting classes in recent years for the 2023 recruiting cycle. While the recruiting rankings are ever-changing, according to industry leaders on3 and 247Sports, Shane Beamer and company have found themselves firmly inside the top-20 since the Early Signing Period ended.
One of the players in this class is ATH Vicari Swain, who signed with South Carolina during the Early Signing Period.
Position: ATH (WR/DB)
Recruiting Ranking: 4 Stars (on3, ESPN, 247); 3 Stars (Rivals)
Measurables: 6’1”; 180 pounds; 4.4 second 40-yard dash; 11’6” broad jump
Former Player Comp: WR—Zola Davis; DB—Jaycee Horn
Vicari Swain is listed as an “athlete” for a reason: he has the ability to play multiple positions at a high level and has ELITE measurables. Swain ran a 4.4 in the forty-yard dash and broad jumped 11’6” (while in socks!) back in the fall. For reference, that 40 time would put him in the top-10 for all NFL Draft combine wide receivers and defensive backs, and that broad jump would have received the top marks for ANY player in Indianapolis for the combine. His physical abilities are what have made him such a coveted prospect, and his recruiting rankings have soared as the secret of his athleticism has become more well known. Swain chose South Carolina despite a hard final push from Colorado head coach Deion Sanders, and Gamecock fans can be encouraged by that interest as Coach Prime knows a thing or two about being an athletic two-way player.
As an offensive player, the 6-foot explosive mover has the size and fluid mobility to play inside in the slot or outside as an X receiver in Offensive Coordinator Dowell Loggains’ offensive system. Watching Swain’s film, anyone can see the potential he has to take the top off the defense with his long-striding speed or make plays over defensive backs with his remarkable leaping ability. His combination of speed, “twitchiness,” and leaping ability could remind fans of former Gamecock Zola Davis. Like Davis, Swain is somewhat thin for the position but could feasibly add some muscle. Wide Receivers Coach Justin Stepp heads up a receiver room at South Carolina that has lots of potential but only has one player (Juice Wells) that is sure to enter next season getting a lot of playing time. If Swain plays receiver, he will have a chance to make an impact early in his career.
If Swain’s future is on the defensive side of the ball, while he could wind up at safety, it seems almost certain that he would be a cornerback. His hip fluidity and natural athletic movements compare favorably to former NFL first-round draft selection Jaycee Horn. He does not possess elite size and is, as mentioned previously, a little thin; however, his long arms show he has the needed length to lockdown larger receivers, and his 6-foot frame can add weight if necessary. Defensive Backs Coach Torrian Gray has coached many corners who fit this archetype in stops at Florida (Teez Tabor, Jaydon Hill) and Virginia Tech (Brandon Flowers, Macho Harris). Swain is not the type of defensive back who shies away from contact; instead, he is a willing tackler with impressive pursuit speed. With the departure of two NFL corners (Darius Rush and likely first round draft pick Cam Smith) and not much experience returning at the position, playing time is available on the outside of the defense, and Vicari Swain will step on campus as a real contender to take some of those snaps.
As of now, the plan seems to be for the four-star athlete to begin his football journey at South Carolina as a corner. This does not mean, though, that Swain will never see the field on offense. In addition to the possibility of changing positions (potential 2023 draftee Darius Rush changed from a defensive back to a receiver and back to a defensive back while at Carolina), Vicari could play corner full-time and still get some run at receiver. Under Shane Beamer, the Gamecocks have not been afraid to use defensive players on offense. Current defensive linemen Tonka Hemingway, Nick Barrett, and TJ Sanders and former defensive lineman Jordan Burch all played snaps on offense during the 2022 season. It would be somewhat shocking never to see Swain take a snap on the offensive side of the ball at some point in his career because he is such a weapon athletically. As it stands now, Clayton White has won the initial tug of war with Dowell Loggains for Swain’s services, but it seems likely the argument will resume once spring practice begins in a couple months.
For Vicari Swain, whether he plays offense or defense, the sky is the limit.