South Carolina football wide receiver Nyck Harbor qualified for the NCAA Championships in track and field (in both the 200-meter sprint and the 100-meter sprint) to finish a very successful freshman season as a sprinter. The 6'5", 240-pound freak also qualified for the Olympic trials in the 200-meter sprint and still has his eyes set on qualifying for the 100-meter, as well.
The strong outdoor season showed great improvement for Harbor as he did not qualify for the NCAA Championships in the winter indoor season. Now, he and the rest of his South Carolina track and field teammates who qualified are in Eugene, Oregon competing for National Championships and All-American honors.
The NCAA Outdoor Championships began on Wednesday, and Harbor already has finished his work in Eugene. As a two-event qualifier, Harbor ran in the 100-meter and the 200-meter and secured All-American recognition in both events.
Specifically, he was named a 2nd Team All-American in both the 100-meter (10.30) and the 200-meter (20.32), meaning that he finished inside the top-16 in the country in both sprinting events.
The improvement as a sprinter bodes well for Harbor's desire to play a bigger role on this year's South Carolina football team. He did not have a spring and will miss most of the summer as he continues to train for a potential Olympic run, so nothing will be easy for the rising sophomore.
However, according to Harbor and everyone associated with the Gamecock football program, Harbor has been getting plenty of work in on his own, with his teammates, and with his playbook. With USC's addition of five transfer portal receivers this offseason, Harbor will not be forced into action if he is not ready, but if he is ready to take a leap as a sophomore, new wide receiver coach Mike Furrey would love to incorporate a player with his size and speed into the mix this fall.