When the disappointing 2023 campaign ended, South Carolina football fans had major concerns about what the wide receiver room would look like heading into next season.
In 2023, Xavier Legette had a massive season, posting over 1250 yards and 7 touchdowns as one of the country's top performers. Other than Legette, though, the Gamecocks' production at the position was very low. Ahmarean Brown had some good moments but was hurt for about half the season, and no one else was a consistent threat past those two players.
Now, both Legette and Brown are gone, and the Gamecocks' leading returning receivers are converted quarterback Luke Doty and track athlete Nyck Harbor who combined for 25 catches, just over 300 yards, and 2 touchdowns receiving.
Some of the receiver question marks were answered this winter through the transfer portal as Jared Brown (Coastal Carolina), Gage Larvadain (Miami (OH)), and Ahmari Huggins-Bruce (Louisville) joined the South Carolina football program.
According to PFF's 2023 grades, new Gamecock wide receivers coach James Coley will have two of the country's best working with his unit next fall as both Brown and Larvadain rank in the top-10 of all transfer wide receivers.
Brown is a versatile receiver who has done a little bit of everything as a wideout. He has played as a slot receiver, he has operated on the outside, he has carried the ball in the run game, he has run underneath routes, and he has hit defenses deep. Brown has a little bit of Deebo Samuel in his game, and depending on what the Gamecocks need from him, he can start at any receiver spot on the field next year.
After redshirting in 2021, Brown spent 2022 and 2023 being a major part of the Coastal Carolina offense, both in Jamey Chadwell's offensive system and Tim Beck's. He put up just under 2000 scrimmage yards in those two seasons, racking up over 1500 through the air and over 400 on the ground. He will have two years of eligibility with the South Carolina football team.
Larvadain is a smaller receiver (listed at 5'10" and 176 pounds), but he has the ability to play multiple receiver spots, as well. With enough quickness to play in the slot, Larvadain can work underneath for slants, digs, and other short to intermediate routes, but he displayed some deep-ball ability while playing at Miami (OH), particularly in an explosive 8-catch, 273-yard performance against UMass. Like Xavier Legette, he had multiple 75-yard+ touchdowns in 2023.
Larvadain is a senior playing his final year in 2024. He spent two years at Southeastern Louisiana (where he also played basketball) before making his way to Miami (OH) last year. He could impact the game as a slot player next season or play some on the outside as long as there is a bigger receiver on the field somewhere. He appears to be a favorite to be a starter, as well.
Both Brown and Larvadain have had limited experience on special teams, but their physical profiles would make them potential candidates to return kicks or punts or to help out on coverage teams for new special teams coordinator Joe DeCamillis.
The wide receiver position should not be viewed as a guaranteed strength of the South Carolina football team in 2024, but thanks to the additions of Jared Brown and Gage Larvadain, the picture looks a lot better.