Final look at South Carolina spring practice: Nyck Harbor back, Judge Collier out
South Carolina receiver Nyck Harbor was back at spring practice Wednesday, while defensive back Judge Collier remained out.
USC coach Shane Beamer said Tuesday the two got “tangled up on a deep ball” last week and both missed practice last Thursday. Harbor, however, was back and doing through drills Wednesday. Collier was in a jersey and sweatpants.
Beamer wasn’t concerned about either of the two’s status going forward.
Reporters were able to observe the first 30 minutes of practice Wednesday. The team was in shells and not full pads. The Gamecocks have two practices left this spring (Thursday and Saturday). There is no spring game this year because of the renovations being done to Williams-Brice Stadium. The school, instead, will host the Garnet & Black Spring Fest on Saturday, an event that includes an autograph session with football players.
Defensive back Jalewis Solomon and freshman linebacker Andrew Harris were in blue non-contact jerseys at practice.
Ball security, tackling drills
Other than stretching, most of the practice the media observed Wednesday revolved on ball security drills for the offensive skill guys with coaches using big foam pads trying to knock the ball from the players’ hands.
On defense, the players were working on creating turnovers, something that plagued the team last year.
Hometown recruit visits
Hammond Class of 2027 linebacker Jackson Ross was on campus and visiting the practice with his father David, a former Gamecock basketball player.
Ross and his father talked with Beamer, coach Shawn Elliott and defensive player personnel assistant Dru Lindler during the portion open to the media. The Gamecocks offered Ross in January. He recently visited Texas Tech and also has other Power 4 offers from Vanderbilt, Duke, North Carolina, Virginia Tech and Wake Forest
The 6-foot-3 Ross had 102 tackles (22 for loss), eight sacks, eight QB pressures, and eight pass breakups this past season. He also caught six touchdown passes as a tight end on offense and helped out as a kicker, hitting the game-winning field goal against Heathwood Hall. As a sophomore, Ross had 134 tackles (14 for loss), 12.5 sacks, six pass breakups, two interceptions, 17 quarterback pressures and scored three defensive touchdowns.
More visitors
Dutch Fork Class of 2029 Taddrick Gibson was at practice along with former Gamecock Greg Wright, who is now the Silver Foxes’ defensive coordinator.
Gibson is getting a lot of Power 4 interest and was a starter as a freshman on the Silver Foxes’ state championship team. He had 39 tackles, three interceptions and six pass breakups.
New A.C. Flora coach Willie Offord was at practice with son Class of 2028 WR/DB Zamir Offord.
Snellville (Ga.) running back Braden Tyson was in attendance. He has an official visit set up with USC next month.
This story was originally published April 8, 2026 at 10:55 AM with the headline "Final look at South Carolina spring practice: Nyck Harbor back, Judge Collier out."
