Four-star Gamecocks signee gained wisdom through transition. How it might help at USC
Rico Powers already went through a change of sorts.
He’s been to a new program with high-level players at his position. He’s quickly adapted to something pretty new, even changing positions as he worked into a higher-tech offense.
So whenever the chance comes, he likely won’t have too much trouble transitioning to being a South Carolina Gamecock.
“Playing with other receivers with Power 5 offers, it made me realize that there’s just one ball,” Powers said. “Whenever it’s your chance, just make your make your plays, honestly.
“I also played with better cornerbacks. So playing with real cornerbacks who actually work on their technique, it was also different and also made me better.”
Powers doesn’t know exactly when he’ll be able to come on campus, owing to the coronavirus pandemic, but he said he’s got indications from coaches he might be able to arrive in June. (An LSU administrator pointed to June 1 or June 15 as likely options to bring SEC athletes back to campus.)
He spent last year at Hapeville Charter in Atlanta, alma mater of current Gamecocks lineman Kingsley Enagbare and a program with a slew of next-level talent. It was also a program that allowed his game as a four-star wide receiver to fully shine.
He came from Benedictine in Savannah, where he was a Wing-T running back who put up 1,000 yards on the ground. But his future was at wide receiver, and the Hornets offered a more spread-style attack.
“It was a fun transition,” Powers said. “I always knew that I was a receiver, so when I finally got (the chance) to become a receiver. It showed me a different side. I had actually fell in love more with the game.”
He said he liked the experience of jumping into a new group, even if some players had been more established. It also created a better level of competition in practice.
He ended up posting more than 450 yards for a balanced offense on a 10-win team. At 6-foot-1, 183 pounds, he offers a level of explosiveness at the receiver spot (he was a four-star recruit).
And he’s at a spot where the Gamecocks need help.
The last few USC classes at receiver have not developed into consistent offensive targets. Going into 2020, the offense has Shi Smith as a proven pass catcher, and not much else on the outside.
USC offensive coordinator Mike Bobo even said he wouldn’t really have much sense of where the team was until Powers and fellow summer enrollee Ger-Cari Caldwell arrived.
“I feel like I’ll have every opportunity,” Powers said. “I have the ability. It’s just all up to me in how I can get college football and the fast pace of it.”
He sees himself as a deep threat, but also the kind of player who can get the ball quickly and beat guys after the catch.
He’s spoken some to his new position coach, Joe Cox. Bryan McClendon was the team’s receivers coach until last month, when he left for Oregon.
And like seemingly everyone else in the college football world, Powers is biding his time, working out and waiting. The message he’s been receiving from the staff is to keep his conditioning up. He’s had some access to a weight room, but that’s not been the focus.
“I’ll definitely say that I put in miles,” Powers said. “Put in miles. That’s the biggest thing Muschamp has been telling me. Just make sure I’m in shape.”
