South Carolina Football's Five Freshmen to Watch this Preseason:
Tight End Michael Smith
One of the few positions seemingly set at the top of the depth chart is tight end. Josh Simon, a redshirt senior who joined the program after transferring from Western Kentucky ahead of last season, will be the starter. Even past the top spot, Ball State transfer Brady Hunt is the clear favorite in the #2 spot. However, true freshman Michael Smith is worth watching this fall.
Smith just enrolled at USC during the summer, but his first official height and weight staggered the fan base a bit as he is listed at 6'6" and 255 pounds. Considered a receiving tight end out of high school, Smith always has been a willing blocker, and at his size, he should be able to provide real production as a pass-catcher and as a blocker for tight end coach/run game coordinator Shawn Elliott.
Smith is the highest-rated high school tight end ever to sign with the South Carolina football program according to 247Sports' rankings, and even with Simon and Hunt in the picture, Smith could be just so good that he has to see the field some.
With the question marks at wide receiver this season, there is a chance that offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains could opt to use a lot of two-tight end sets this fall, further increasing the likelihood that Michael Smith plays as a true freshman.