South Carolina lacks size in wide receiver room. Is that an issue for Gamecocks?
In the dreams of wide receiver coaches all across America, they waltz into their morning position meeting and look out to a room full of Xavier Legettes. Chairs occupied by a dozen towering figures — 6-foot-3, 230-pound dudes who look like they haven’t eaten a carb since the Obama administration.
That is the dream. But never is it the reality. Those guys are rare specimens — and plenty of the guys who look the part either can’t run routes, can’t catch or have no concept of team. So to pull a dozen Xavier Legettes into the same room isn’t gonna happen.
But, surely, you’d want more than one, right?
Shane Beamer certainly thinks so.
Since last season, South Carolina lost five receivers to the transfer portal and another pair — Legette and Ahmarean Brown — to the NFL Draft. It did retain Nyck Harbor — the 6-foot-5, 242-pound Greek-God lookalike who just ran the 100-meter dash in 10.17 seconds.
But outside of Harbor, the Gamecocks wide receiver room includes only one other guy — redshirt freshman CJ Adams (6-2, 218 pounds) — who stands taller than 6-1 and/or weighs more than 200 pounds.
And consider this: The Gamecocks brought five new receivers into the program this offseason. See if you notice a trend.
TRANSFERS:
Gage Larvadain (Miami Ohio): 5-10, 176 pounds
Ahmari Huggins-Brice (Louisville): 5-11, 175 pounds
Jared Brown (Coastal Carolina): 6-0, 190 pounds
FRESHMEN:
Four star Mazeo Bennett: 5-11, 188 pounds
Four star Debron Gatling: 6-0, 194 pounds
“I like that group,” said Beamer. “No, they’re not Xavier Legette and big, from that standpoint. And they all don’t look like Nyck Harbor. So, in some ways, that’s a little concerning because in today’s time, you need big bodies out there on the perimeter.”
To Beamer, the lack of size works both ways.
The bad: Smaller guys aren’t likely to win many 50-50 battles. If quarterback LaNorris Sellers is in trouble, the only guy with a favorable matchup to come down with a competitive catch is Harbor.
The good: There’s plenty. First off, the Gamecocks have a pair of stellar tight ends — 6-4 Joshua Simon and 6-6 Ball State transfer Brady Hunt — who can catch passes and make up for the lack of wide-receiver size.
Second, size is not a qualifier for great receivers. The best receiver in the NFL this past season, Miami Dolphins star Tyreek Hill, is only 5-10, 191 pounds. Heck, the last college wide receiver to win the Heisman was 6-foot, 170-pound Devonta Smith, who’s touchdown beat Beamer’s Georgia Bulldogs in the 2018 national championship.
“He’s not a very big guy but he’s got a great skillset,” Beamer said of Smith. “I think that’s what these guys bring to the table. ... We’ll be creative with our personnel and continue to find ways to best utilize those guys.”
In a recent practice, Beamer said, the Gamecocks threw a little screen to Larvadain and he caught the short pass, juked one man and bolted into the end zone.
“I’m been small my whole life. (Turn) the tape on,” Larvadain said. “It’s one of those things we use a little extra motivation, for sure. Having that chip on our shoulder.”
Still Beamer noted that when the transfer portal reopens on April 15, the Gamecocks will be searching for anybody who can increase the depth and competition within the building.
Based upon his comments, and the recent departure of receiver Kelton Henderson, one would have to imagine South Carolina will search for a bigger receiver to bulk up its roster.
This story was originally published March 27, 2024 at 7:30 AM with the headline "South Carolina lacks size in wide receiver room. Is that an issue for Gamecocks?."
