South Carolina Football: Gamecock freshman sits atop annual “Freaks List”
By Kevin Miller
South Carolina football had a big Signing Day last February when 5-star athlete Nyckoles Harbor signed with the Gamecocks after a late push from Oregon and some pressure from hometown Maryland. The Washington DC native became the first consensus 5-star prospect from out-of-state to sign with USC in the modern recruiting era.
Needless to say, expectations for the freshman are high. At 6’5″ and 241 pounds, Harbor is a 1-of-1 type prospect. After spending most of his high school career as a pass rusher, he transitioned to a wide receiver role and plans to catch passes in college, as well. Harbor, despite being one of the biggest receivers in college football, has legitimate Olympic sprinting dreams.
The combination of Harbor’s size, speed, and high-profile recruitment has put him in the public eye in a big way, and that continued on Tuesday.
Bruce Feldman of The Athletic releases an annual “Freaks List” in which he ranks and profiles some of the biggest physical freaks in college football. For the first time in Feldman’s 20 years of making these lists, a true freshman is at the top. Nyckoles Harbor is the 2023 freakiest freak. He joins Jadeveon Clowney (2013) as Gamecocks to sit at the top of Feldman’s Freaks List.
Harbor is still relatively new to the wide receiver position as he has not been playing the position for the majority of his life like most other college wideouts. However, with his unique physical tools, he will still have a path to contribute in 2023 as a true freshman.
With elite long-sprint speed and a quarterback in Spencer Rattler who can sling the football, Harbor will be a threat to take the top off of the defense on virtually any play. If opposing secondaries do not find a way to keep at least one defensive back over the top or to keep Harbor from getting off the line, he will have opportunities down the field.
However, at 6’5″ with his elite athleticism, he also has the potential to be one of the best red zone jump ball threats in the country, as well.
Essentially, no matter where he is on the field, Nyckoles Harbor will be a threat to score.
One of the most interesting things about Harbor is that he could get even faster. Starting next spring, he will also be running track for the Gamecocks, meaning he will be receiving additional high-level sprint coaching.
South Carolina football fans probably should temper their expectations a bit when thinking about Harbor just because he is a true freshman in the SEC playing a relatively new position. However, the kid is so special that even the most wildly unfair projection of his 2023 season is still within the realm of possibility.
Is it likely that Nyck Harbor will be a dominant force on day 1 in the SEC? No. Is it possible? For anyone who has watched Harbor’s film on the field or on the track, it is readily apparent that nothing is impossible.
So, Gamecock fans, try your best to enjoy #8 while he is in garnet and black. Another player like Nyckoles Harbor may not come around ever again.