Four-star receiver ready to step into the fray when Gamecocks get to spring practice
Mike Wyman has an opportunity right ahead of him.
True, the wide receiver from North Carolina has been at the University of South Carolina for around a month, and a total of a bit more than 7 weeks separated his enrollment and the start of the Gamecocks’ spring practice. But he’s joining a position in a bit of flux for USC, and there should be opportunities for someone new to step in.
Not that he’s too focused on all that.
“Looking at the roster, I’m not really worried about the roster,” Wyman said before enrolling in January. “Anywhere I go, it’s going to be the same thing. There’s going to be guys there ahead of me. I’ve got to be ready to play ASAP. I try not to look at the roster. It’s just football.”
South Carolina returns one anchor starter in Shi Smith, several experienced but not-yet-consistent players in OrTre Smith, Josh Vann and Xavier Legette and a lot of question marks. The team has to replace its top pass catcher in Bryan Edwards, who set career records at the school.
The Gamecocks will need someone to step up (no one really did down the stretch in 2019), but Wyman isn’t sweating it too much.
“I hope God blesses me with the opportunity to play early,” Wyman said. “But if not, then that’s cool to me. I know it’s going to be a lot of hard work because it’s going to be a new playbook, new offense.”
The 6-foot-2, four-star wide receiver posted solid enough numbers as a Dudley High School (Greensboro, North Carolina) senior. In an offense that ran more than 2.4 times for every pass, he caught 26 balls for 465 yards and a touchdown. Even back when he committed, he said he accepted the role of a perimeter blocker, and he played his part for an attack that put up 330.5 rushing yards a game (for runners had at least 700 yards).
With a sophomore quarterback and a prodigious sophomore alongside him in the receiver room, he said he took on a role of guiding those players.
“I just tried to stay focused, help the younger players out,” Wyman said. “That was the main focus because we had a really young team that season. Just try to get the guys on track. Try to get their minds right. Try to get them playoff ready.”
His team won 10 games, reaching the second round of the playoffs before bowing out after playing tight through three quarters.
At his size, Wyman fits the mold of some of the receivers the staff has brought in the past few years, big-bodied players who can get up for jump balls and box out smaller defenders.
Before enrolling, he said he just expected hard work when he arrived, learning the playbook, team workouts, all the rest. He won’t have to wait long for spring ball, which starts Feb. 26.
“I don’t know what to expect,” Wyman said. “I just can’t wait. I’m so excited right now.”
Through the recruiting process, he’d been communicating with future roommates Luke Doty and MarShawn Lloyd, two of USC’s other four-star skill guys in the 2020 class.
But leaving for college also meant moving away from home for the first time, a challenging time for a lot of kids. He said it was fun taking extra time with family, but also a mixture of emotions with some sadness.
His mother has been a rock for him. She gave a heartfelt speech just before he committed to the Gamecocks, and has been a presence through much of his recruitment.
He’s not moving so far from home, but as he prepared for his next step in life, he made sure to keep her spirits up.
“It’s been kinda tough,” Wyman said. “But I’ve been keeping positive thoughts in her head, so she’s been doing good.”
This story was originally published January 29, 2020 at 12:26 AM.
