Bryan Edwards wants to join Jeffery, Rice: ‘Leave my mark with those guys, legends’

Bryan Edwards has accomplished a good bit in his two seasons as a South Carolina Gamecock.

He has started every game at wide receiver since arriving on campus. The Conway High School alum had 590 yards as a true freshman, 793 more as a top target in Year 2.

He’s been rated one of the 30 best receivers in the country going into 2018, his junior season. But he wants more, much more.

“I want to make plays here,” Edwards said. “I want to break records. I want to set a standard. Guys like Alshon Jeffery, Sidney Rice, I want to leave my mark with those guys, legends.”

He’ll be trying to do that in a stacked receiving group, which includes the likes of sophomores Shi and OrTre Smith, plus senior Deebo Samuel, who will likely be on the short list of best receivers and playmakers in the country.

Through two seasons, Edwards’ 108 receptions are nine short of the program’s all-time top-10. He has 1,383 receiving yards thus far.

In the Gamecocks’ offense, he’s grown into a jump ball specialist — a player Jake Bentley can throw the ball up and let him go get it. That included a big touchdown pass that helped spur USC’s comeback in the Outback Bowl against Michigan.

Edwards was a commit to the previous staff, and opened things up when Steve Spurrier departed. But Will Muschamp’s staff reeled him in, and it’s paid off.

Samuel might again emerge as USC’s top pass-catcher, and the Gamecocks will have to replace the production of the departed Hayden Hurst. But Edwards remains a steady presence, someone who has been solid and dependable, with goals of much more.

“I feel like I’m definitely on a good track,” Edwards said. “My freshman year and this year, but I feel like I’ve still got so much more to improve on, so much more to do. I feel like I haven’t even scraped the surface.”

This story was originally published July 24, 2018 at 12:53 AM.