South Carolina football commitment Mazeo “MJ” Bennett has a chance to be something special in garnet and black. The quick-footed receiver has the dynamic ball skills needed to play on the outside, but he is shifty enough as a route-runner to play in the slot at the college level.
The 4-star playmaker from Greenville High School put his abilities on full display on Friday night. Against Berea High School, Bennett scored three touchdowns in the 1st quarter. Even more impressively, Bennett’s three touchdowns came in three different varieties.
With a 7-0 lead, the future Gamecock fielded a punt and took it down the right sideline for a score. Then, as a follow-up, Bennett was given a goal line carry on the next possession, and he ran behind fellow South Carolina football commitment Blake Franks for another touchdown.
Naturally, as a wide receiver, Bennett’s third score of the quarter came on a reception. On a deep crossing route, #3 stepped just inside the goal line and high pointed a pass over a Berea defender and came down with a touchdown that put his Red Raider squad up 28-0. Bennett and the Greenville starters left the game soon after, and the final score was 56-0.
Currently, the South Carolina football program has just one surefire wide receiver prospect committed in the class of 2024 (Bennett). Zy’marion Lang could end up as a receiver, as well, but the original plan when he committed was to start him off as a defensive back.
In recent days, the Gamecocks offered in-state 4-star receiver Braylon Staley. Several other Carolina targets like 4-stars athletes Kam Mikell and Jalewis Solomon are interested in the Gamecocks (though Solomon is committed to Auburn) and could wind up as receivers in college.
With the Gamecocks set to lose at least four players from the position group this offseason, the ’24 class will need to include more than just Bennett, but South Carolina football fans are thankful their favorite team is bringing in a talent like the Greenville High star.