One of South Carolina’s top receivers trying fill in at Deebo Samuel’s spot
South Carolina wide receiver Shi Smith is doing something different this spring.
Last fall, the then-sophomore broke out as a play-maker. He worked at the inside receiver spots, going against slot corners and letting his quickness work in short spaces. But now he’s dabbling in something else.
“This spring I’ve been focusing on more outside,” Smith said. “Whereas last year I was inside, I’m focusing on outside, filling in on what Deebo (Samuel) was doing.”
South Carolina had the luxury of Samuel and Bryan Edwards bookending the offense last season. Both posted more than 840 yards and could go up and get the ball.
Smith is a different sort of receiver, smaller, more slight. That means he’s got to rely on something else.
“My biggest thing on the outside, because I’m not one of the bigger guys, my thing is speed release,” Smith said, adding he was primarily an outside player in high school.
That speed helped him to 45 catches and 673 yards last season. He often played the role of a deeper threat, but did a bit of everything.
USC will need more of that without Samuel, who could take a screen a long way, slip tackles and hold his own on 50-50 balls. Edwards said Smith brings the ability to take the top off the defense, but as far as stepping in for Samuel, things will be different.
“Deebo is kind of his own person just because of how much we weighs, the size of him,” Edwards said. “But as far as vertical threat and just pure speed, play-making ability with the ball in his hands, I can see (Smith) doing some of the same things.”
Samuel was often compared to a running back with the ball in his hands, and that won’t be the same with Smith. The younger receiver said he hasn’t talked much to Samuel about the role he’s filling, but plans to pick his brain once the draft process winds down.
Part of this spring was a learning experience for the third-year pass catcher out of Union County. Being outside meant going against longer, talented corners in Jaycee Horn and Israel Mukuamu in practice.
He said his goal for the rest of the offseason is just focusing on smaller details.
Even with this prep, Smith could well find himself back on the inside just because of talent distribution. If he comes back from injury, 6-foot-4 OrTre Smith would be a top candidate to step back into the role he held as a true freshman.
But for now, Shi Smith is trying something new, expanding his skillset. He might be stepping into a big set of shoes, but he doesn’t see too much of a change.
“It’s not a big difference because my speed makes up for a lot,” Shi Smith said. “I definitely have to get stronger in the weight room, coming off the ball.”
This story was originally published April 1, 2019 at 10:30 PM.