South Carolina Football: Under the radar players to watch as fall camp begins
By Kevin Miller
South Carolina Football’s most under the radar players to watch in fall camp:
Tight End/Wide Receiver Joshua Simon
Josh Simon has heard a lot about fellow pass-catching tight end Trey Knox this offseason, and the South Carolina native is happy for his teammate. However, Simon is going to show a lot of people this fall that he didn’t transfer to Carolina to be a backup to anyone, not even Trey Knox.
Word out of spring practice and summer workouts is that Simon is going to force new offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains to play two tight ends a lot this season. Simon is 6’4″ and 238 pounds and runs very well for a player his size.
In the Garnet and Black Spring Game, Spencer Rattler threw the majority of his passes to three players: Juice Wells (duh), Trey Knox, and Josh Simon. That distribution of throws could be indicative of what will be to come this fall, as well. The Gamecock receiver room has a lot of talented players, but the two new tight ends are too good to ignore.
Something to watch in Simon’s usage this fall is how often he plays wide receiver. With the presence of Knox and blocking tight end Nick Elksnis, Simon’s clearest path to considerable playing time is likely split out into the slot or out wide. He is fully capable of playing that role, as well, so if tight ends Jody Wright and wide receivers coach Justin Stepp can work something out, Gamecock fans should expect to see Simon line up all over the Carolina offense.
Seeing how Rattler continues to build chemistry with his new pass catchers will be one of August’s most intriguing storylines on offense, and Simon stands as good a chance as any to emerge as one of the team’s top targets behind Juice Wells. If things go well, the newest #6 could replace the receiving production of the player who wore the jersey a year ago, Josh Vann.