South Carolina football brought in the 16th-ranked recruiting class in the 2023 cycle. The highest-rated member of the class was Washington DC athlete Nyckoles Harbor. A track star as well as a football star, Harbor was primarily an EDGE for most of his high school career but became a receiver and is expected to play the position as he seeks to maintain his track weight. He is considered a 5-star prospect by every major recruiting outlet other than ESPN and is an Olympic-caliber sprinter.
Over the weekend, Harbor competed at the Puma ECI Showcase along with some of the best high school sprinters in the country. In the 100-meter dash, Harbor got off to a less-than-ideal start out of the blocks but exploded forward for the come-from-behind victory with a lightning-fast 10.28 second time.
https://twitter.com/MaxPreps/status/1654952235846057987?s=20
Harbor is a unique prospect. A 6’5,” 230-pound player who is fast enough to have Olympic track aspirations, he represents a player archetype never before seen. He will be a receiver for the Gamecocks, but as he is somewhat new to the position, he will take some time to adjust and get comfortable. However, he will become a matchup nightmare as his top-end speed will be virtually unmatched across all of college football, and his length and athletic profile will allow him to become a redzone threat, especially when matched up against smaller corners.
There have been some rumblings that the explosive athlete could get a few defensive snaps if the situation allows. An elite pass rusher in high school, Harbor would be unblockable coming off the edge in obvious passing situations as there is not a single offensive tackle who is capable of catching up to Nyck Harbor if he gets a good jump off the snap.
It was fitting that on Kentucky Derby weekend that the biggest and strongest horse in the field won the Puma ECI Showcase, and Harbor will look to continue his athletic excellence when he arrives on campus in Columbia this summer.