South Carolina Football: Predictions for the two-deep on the Gamecock offense

South Carolina Football Two-Deep Predictions on Offense:
Wide Receiver

The wide receiver position looks drastically different in 2024 than it did in 2023. Xavier Legette, Juice Wells, Ahmarean Brown, O'Mega Blake, and Eddie Lewis are all gone, and there are seven new players in the receiver room after the Gamecocks brought in five transfers and two high school signees.

Jared Brown (Coastal Carolina Chanticleers), Gage Larvadain (Miami (OH) RedHawks), and Ahmari Huggins-Bruce (Louisville Cardinals) transferred in before spring, and Dalevon Campbell (Nevada Wolfpack) and Vandrevius Jacobs (Florida State Seminoles) joined the program this summer. High school signees Mazeo Bennett and Debron Gatling enrolled early.

Statistically, Nyck Harbor and Luke Doty are the leading returning receivers on the team but combined for just 25 catches, less than 350 yards, and 2 receiving touchdowns in 2023. Tyshawn Russell and Payton Mangrum also played some last year.

STARTER, Dalevon Campbell

Xavier Legette owned the X-spot in 2023, but the competition to become the big-bodied outside threat on the 2024 version of the South Carolina football team is wide-open. If the Gamecock offensive coaching staff wants another jump ball threat on the outside, the newest USC receiver might be the most likely candidate to start.

Dalevon Campbell was one of two wideouts to commit to Carolina out of the transfer portal this spring. He started his career at Illinois before becoming the best receiver for a putrid Nevada offense. Even with bad quarterback and offensive line play around him, Campbell had two productive statistical years with the Wolfpack, and he hopes to translate that success to Columbia.

Possessing solid speed at 6'4" and 215 pounds, Campbell is the archetype of what an outside receiver looks like. His last year of eligibility will be used as he comes into a wide receiver room with a new coach and a very open depth chart. If things go well for him, he could slot into the starting role at X this fall.

STARTER, Gage Larvadain

Gage Larvadain is a small receiver (listed at 5'10" and 175 pounds), so the slot seems like his future home. However, he played on the outside a lot for Miami (OH) last season, so there is a real chance the transfer portal addition could move around the receiver set a bit.

Larvadain probably was the team's most consistent wide receiver in the spring as he and Mazeo Bennett were the names most mentioned as the offense's top performers at the position.

Larvadain's game is built on speed and quickness, and he could slot into a similar role that graduating senior Ahmarean Brown held last year. Brown was faster, but both players possess elite agility, and Larvadain has more consistent hands than Brown.

Larvadain was a deep-ball threat last season for the RedHawks, and USC offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains has not been afraid to dial up shots downfield. Larvadain's quickness could see him utilized in the quick-game, too, so fans can expect to see him targeted all over the field.

STARTER, Jared Brown

Coastal Carolina transfer receiver Jared Brown had the best stats last season of any receiver on the Gamecock roster. With just under 1000 yards of offense for Coastal in 2023, Brown was a major part of the offense in Conway and could become one in Columbia, as well.

With 58 catches for 740 yards and 4 touchdowns last season, only Xavier Legette eclipsed Brown's numbers for Shane Beamer's team in 2023. He will have a spot in the offense this fall, and it could be an important one. His versatility (both in his usage and in his ability to play inside or outside) will help Brown's pursuit of playing time.

South Carolina does not run the same offense as Coastal, but Brown still could be the type of player who is used in the run game as a compliment to the running backs. Only Mario Anderson had more rushing yards for the Gamecocks last year than Brown did for the Chanticleers. End-arounds, option plays, and swing passes behind the line could become a bigger part of the USC offense thanks to Jared Brown.

Brown's history of production (over 1900 yards from scrimmage and 10 touchdowns in his two years as a starter) will earn him early playing time and, likely, a starting spot in Dowell Loggains' offense.

BACKUP, Nyck Harbor

As much as fans might want former 5-star Nyck Harbor to be a 1000-yard player in year 2 in Columbia, that seems unlikely. Harbor missed the entire spring running track and will continue missing time this summer as he has qualified for the Olympic trials. He will contribute this fall, but it will likely be in a rotational role rather than as a go-to target.

All of that can change for Harbor as his physical abilities (6'5" and near 240 pounds; 10.1 100-meter sprint speed) are unmatched in college football. If things "click" for the sophomore receiver, he could explode onto the college football scene.

If Dalevon Campbell (or whoever else is getting reps on the outside at the X-spot) and Harbor are both playing well, the Gamecocks will find a way to get them on the field. Receivers cross-train a ton, and Harbor got some experience playing the Z during his freshman year and even lining up in the slot from his high school days as a receiving tight end.

BACKUP, Mazeo Bennett

True freshman Mazeo Bennett has been a really nice surprise since enrolling early at the University of South Carolina. No one is surprised that the Greenville High School alum is a good player, but the fact that he has been so good so quickly is what has caught some off-guard.

Bennett was one of the Gamecocks' best receivers in the spring, routinely hearing his name praised by coaches during media availabilities. While his inexperience likely will keep him out of the starting lineup at the beginning of the year, there is a very real possibility that he is starting before his first season in Columbia is over.

From a size standpoint, Bennett profiles best as a slot receiver, but with the Gamecocks' expected high usage of smaller players at wideout (Jared Brown, Gage Larvadain, Ahmari Huggins-Bruce, Tyshawn Russell, Debron Gatling, Vandrevius Jacobs, and Payton Mangrum are also listed at 6'0" or smaller), there will be some cross-training of shorter targets in both the slot and on the outside.

BACKUP, Tyshawn Russell

Tyshawn Russell flashed some real ability last fall but struggled with his hands. The late addition to the class of 2023 has the route-running footwork and quickness to be a factor for the Gamecocks if he can be more consistent as a pass-catcher.

His biggest play a year ago came on a beautifully-thrown deep ball from LaNorris Sellers against Furman, but he showed some quality get-off at the line of scrimmage that should allow him to get separation on short patterns like slants and crossers.

Tyshawn Russell has some of the highest variance of any player on the roster next season, but if he has a good summer and fall camp, he will be part of the receiver rotation to start the season.

OTHER NAMES TO KNOW

Luke Doty is going to play some snaps this season, and so will Payton Mangrum (especially early in the year). The two veterans will not put up huge stat lines, but their collective experience and willingness to block on the outside will get them on the field some.

All of the newcomers at receiver will have a real chance to play. Ahmari Huggins-Bruce was a dependable player at Louisville, so he will get on the field and could earn his way into a rotational role. Vandrevius Jacobs is extremely talented and could force his way into the conversation.

Elijah Caldwell impressed last summer before the pads came on, so maybe he is ready to take a step up and become a contributor. CJ Adams is one of just three receivers on the roster (joining Nyck Harbor and Dalevon Campbell) taller than 6'1". Debron Gatling will be a good player in Columbia eventually, but he was injured this spring.

Running back Juju McDowell has gotten some slot snaps in the past, and tight ends Josh Simon and freshman Michael Smith could split out wide in certain situations.