South Carolina Football: Nyck Harbor shows off his amazing speed with Gamecock track

Nyck Harbor is fast. The South Carolina football rising sophomore is spending part of his spring away from the football team as he runs with the South Carolina track and field program. He has already run as part of the team during the winter indoor season, and now, he is making his mark on the outdoor season as he prepares for a hopeful run at the 2024 Olympics.

This weekend, while participating in the 200-meter sprint at the Alan Connie Shamrock Invitational, Harbor pulled in one of the Gamecocks' 12 total wins. Winning the gold, Harbor ran a 20.86. It was the fastest 200-meter time in the East Region this season and the 2nd-fastest time in the entire NCAA.

At the Alan Connie Shamrock Invitational meet, South Carolina track and field finished 2nd behind Coastal Carolina.

Harbor's track times have caused a bit of a stir within the South Carolina football fanbase. The 6'5", 240-pound receiver is one of the most physically-gifted players in the entire country. He showed a few flashes in the 2023 season, but with more practice at his new position and more opportunity to play likely in 2024 (he is the only returning pass-catcher on the roster who is believed to be a full-time outside receiver), if he is going to break out, it will start this fall.

Spring practice begins for the Gamecocks next week, and Harbor is expected to be a limited participant as he continues to juggle both track and football. Earlier this offseason, Harbor said that he likely would not partcipate in spring practice's culminating event, the Garnet and Black Spring Game, scheduled for April 20th under the lights at Williams-Brice Stadium.

Harbor's involvement with the football team this summer will be determined by his success at the Olympic trials in June. If he makes the Olympics, he will be away from the team for parts of July and parts of August.