South Carolina Football: Gamecock tight end ranked as top-3 returner at position

South Carolina football offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains didn't have a whole lot of weapons at wide receiver ready to contribute last year (1st round NFL Draft pick Xavier Legette had over half of the team's receiving yards at the position), so the first-year Gamecock play-caller dialed up a lot of chances for his tight ends.

Trey Knox and Josh Simon were big parts of the offensive game plan in 2023, and with Knox now playing for the Minnesota Vikings, Simon could be in line for a bigger share of the load this fall.

According to Pro Football Focus, a bigger workload for Simon would be a good thing for the 2024 version of the South Carolina football team as he is one of the top returners at the tight end position in the Southeastern Conference. In fact, PFF's grading system ranks Simon as the 3rd-best returning receiving tight end (this includes transfers) in the SEC heading into the '24 season.

That number really won't come as a surprise to Gamecock fans. Even with Knox being a productive player last year, the fanbase was clamoring for Simon to get even more of an opportunity than he did. Even so, he was third on the team in receptions, fourth in receiving yards, and one of just three Gamecocks with multiple touchdown receptions. He also was a pretty good blocker.

Simon, a Palmetto State native, is 6'4" and around 240 pounds, but he moves like a much smaller man. He has a chance for a breakout campaign in 2024 if he has his number called as much as deserves. He will share some snaps with transfer tight end Brady Hunt (Ball State Cardinals), and inexperienced players like Nick Elksnis, Reid Mikeska, Connor Cox, and Michael Smith could get involved, as well.

Whether he is the designated "TE1" next season or a co-starter with Hunt like he was with Knox a season ago, Simon will be a big determiner in the offense's success in the first year of LaNorris Sellers' tenure as the starting quarterback.