National analyst's annual "Freaks List" includes two South Carolina football stars

For many, college football season arrives once The Athletic's Bruce Feldman releases his annual "Freaks List" in which he ranks the most ridiculous athletes across the sport. In last year's version of the ranking, South Carolina football wide receiver Nyck Harbor was the top freak. This year, the rising Gamecock sophomore became the first-ever back-to-back recipient of the honor.

However, he is not the only garnet and black-clad freak recognized this preseason as Gamecock defensive back Nick Emmanwori cracked the 2024 version of Bruce Feldman's Freaks List, slotting in at #11.

Harbor's inclusion was no surprise. At 6'5" and nearly 240 pounds, he is one of the fastest players in the country and qualified for the Olympic trials in the 200-meter sprint before deciding to focus on football this summer. Even as a true freshman, he was an All-American in both the 100-meter and 200-meter this spring, and with a year of football under his belt, South Carolina football fans are hopeful a breakout is coming this fall.

Emmanwori's name might be a bit of a surprise to those outside of Columbia, but those in the Palmetto State get it. Measuring between 6'3" and 6'4" and weighing over 220 pounds, Emmanwori has a vertical leap over 40 inches and is nearly as fast as Harbor (he's been clocked at 23 miles per hour at practice and beat Ahmarean Brown in a race last season despite Brown running a 4.30 in the 40-yard dash at Pro Day). Emmanwori also is an All-SEC candidate at safety and is viewed as a possible early pick in next year's NFL Draft.

If Shane Beamer's South Carolina football team is to bounce back from a tough 5-7 campaign last year, these two freaks likely will be big parts of the team's success. Harbor is the biggest and fastest player in the wide receiver room, and Emmanwori is one of the best players and leaders on the Carolina defense.

Harbor, Emmanwori, and the Gamecocks will kick off their season in just 25 days when they welcome the Old Dominion Monarchs to Williams-Brice Stadium for a 4:15 PM ET contest on August 31st.