Two South Carolina freshmen who stood out to Jake Bentley this summer

Jake Bentley has carried a leadership burden this offseason.

The coaches trust players to run their own practices in the summer, do what they can to learn and work, as the coaches aren’t allowed to. That falls on the leaders of a team, of which Bentley is certainly one.

But in those practices, he sees the newest Gamecocks show of their skills and develop heading into their first seasons. This summer, a pair stood out.

“Josh Vann has looked really good,” Bentley said. “Jaycee Horn defensively has looked really good. He’s really surprised me defensively in what he’s been able to do so far.”

That would be four-star wide receiver Josh Vann and four-star defensive back Jaycee Horn. Both are part of the smaller nine-man cadre of freshmen signees that didn’t make it in for spring semester.

And both could be guys with impact potential next season, especially considering the progress this summer.

“Just to see the explosiveness from Jaycee, he’s really a fast guy,” Bentley said. “And then Josh, the way Shi (Smith)’s been able to teach him, and he’s picked it up so fast on the offense and what he needs to do.”

Horn was the No. 209 player in his class by the 247 composite rankings. At 6-foot, 195 pounds, coaches and teammates, including potential All-American Deebo Samuel, praised his length and how he competes.

He’ll have an open road to playing time if he proves competent. Across from projected starter Rashad Fenton, USC projects to start Texas A&M grad transfer Nick Harvey. Behind them, a blend of true freshmen, a former wide receiver and a redshirt freshman who couldn’t get healthy last season (Tavyn Jackson).

Vann is going to contend at a spot where the Gamecocks have plenty of options. Already there is the aforementioned Smith, who got the vast majority of inside receiver reps. USC has often played tight ends there, often in the mold of K.C. Crosby or Kiel Pollard (Hayden Hurst worked there, but he could play a few spots).

He showed off explosiveness in high school, posting more than 2,000 yards and 25 touchdowns in his final two years at a powerhouse. Coaches praised his physical skills and length.

And both got their first tastes of USC’s schemes and of facing off with college competition at those practices Bentley helped run. It’s his second year handling that, his first as an upperclassman, and he admitted that made it a little different.

“It’s more pressure,” Bentley said. “If you will, to run it smoothly, and to make sure we get stuff done without the coaches. The coaches are really looking to me and looking to a lot of leaders on the team to get stuff done. For it to be ran smooth.”

This story was originally published July 23, 2018 at 8:10 AM.