South Carolina Football: With 87 days until kickoff, a look at number 87 Brady Hunt

South Carolina football fans who are counting down the days already know that there are 87 days until the Gamecocks are back on the field in Williams-Brice Stadium. One of the newest members of the program will wear #87 this season, and the transfer portal addition should be a major factor for the USC offense.

The 2024 season's #87 is tight end Brady Hunt, an offseason transfer from Ball State. Hunt has had just one active season of collegiate ball, but he is in his fourth year overall in college football. He transitioned from quarterback to tight end in 2021 and took a redshirt, was really good for the Cardinals in 2022, and missed the 2023 campaign with an ankle/foot injury. Assuming he is granted the medical redshirt he deserves, he will have three years of eligibility remaining, including this fall.

Back in 2022 at Ball State, Hunt was a Freshman All-American thanks to 46 catches, 498 yards, and 5 touchdowns and a solid effort as a blocker. He joins a tight end room in Columbia with several talented players, but he is expected to be one of the top two players in the position room in 2024, along with senior Josh Simon.

Simon and Hunt should make for a nice duo for the Gamecocks, and because offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains uses two-tight end sets a lot and names two starters at the position, the two players both seem set to be starters this fall.

Hunt is listed at 6'6" and 250 pounds, providing Carolina with a combination of size and athleticism that the Gamecocks haven't seen in a while. Partnering with the uber-athletic Simon should give new tight end coach Shawn Elliott a solid one-two punch. Both players can be useful players in the receiving game and help out as blockers.

Less experienced players like Connor Cox, Reid Mikeska, Nick Elksnis, and Michael Smith all could play some, as well, but Hunt and Simon are the best combinations of receiving and blocking ability on the roster.

Last year's top tight ends were Simon and Trey Knox, but Knox is with the Minnesota Vikings now. Hunt will have some pretty good shoes to fill to help the tight end room match or improve its production from 2023, but if he does his part, South Carolina football fans could have an offense that is fun to watch this fall.