State of the WRs: Gamecocks in search of reliable options with Shi Smith gone
In just a few days, South Carolina football will kick off what should be one of the most hotly anticipated spring practice seasons in recent memory. The Gamecocks have a new head coach in Shane Beamer and are coming off back-to-back eight-loss seasons, and fans are eager to see how Beamer’s return to USC starts.
Spring practice begins Saturday for the Gamecocks, with the spring game on April 24.
One of the most interesting position groups to watch this spring will be the wide receivers. Shi Smith is off to the NFL, and without him the Gamecocks return just two wide receivers who had 100 or more receiving yards last season. The lack of a second option was a constant issue in 2020, and now USC must fill its top spot as well.
THE PLAYERS: NOT A LOT OF RETURNING PRODUCTION
▪ Jalen Brooks, senior, 6-foot-2, 200 pounds: 11 catches on 33 targets for 100 yards in 2020
▪ Ahmarean Brown, junior, 5-9, 165: 11 catches for 183 yards, 1 touchdown in 2020 at Georgia Tech
▪ Ger-Cari Caldwell, sophomore, 6-5, 200: 1 catch on 2 targets for 5 yards in 2020
▪ Randrecous Davis, redshirt senior, 5-10, 195: 2 catches on 4 targets for 23 yards, 1 touchdown in 2018
▪ E.J. Jenkins, redshirt senior, 6-7, 242: 39 catches, 779 yards, 13 touchdowns in 2019 at FCS Saint Francis
▪ Dakereon Joyner, redshirt junior, 6-1, 205: 7 catches on 13 targets for 55 yards, 1 touchdown, 2 rushing attempts for 61 yards, 1 rushing touchdown in 2020
▪ Xavier Legette, junior, 6-foot, 212: 7 catches on 13 targets, 113 yards, no touchdowns in 2020
▪ Rico Powers, sophomore, 6-2, 190: 2 catches on 10 targets for 19 yards in 2020
▪ Sam Reynolds, freshman, 5-9, 180: 30 catches for 492 yards, 6 receiving touchdowns, 52 rushing attempts for 291 yards, 7 touchdowns in 2020 as high school senior
▪ OrTre Smith, redshirt senior, 6-4, 227: 9 catches on 19 targets, 69 yards, 1 touchdown in 2019 (opted out of 2020)
▪ Chad Terrell, redshirt senior, 6-3, 212: missed all of 2020 after knee injury
▪ Josh Vann, senior, 5-10, 195: 10 catches on 24 targets for 88 yards, 1 touchdown in 2020
▪ Mike Wyman, redshirt freshman, 6-2, 200: saw no action in 2020
THE COACH: JOE COX OUT, JUSTIN STEPP IN
Former Furman star and Clemson assistant Justin Stepp is back in South Carolina, returning home after three seasons coaching receivers at an SEC program in Arkansas. Stepp has a reputation as an outstanding recruiter, helping the Razorbacks sign a half-dozen blue chip wideouts in his tenure. He also has coached several 1,000-yard receivers, something South Carolina hasn’t had since 2014. Stepp replaces Joe Cox, who came in with former offensive coordinator Mike Bobo.
Who is No. 1 option for Gamecocks?
Smith single-handedly accounted for around a third of South Carolina’s receptions and receiving yards last season, and that was with tight end Nick Muse and running back Kevin Harris as the second- and third-best options. Among actual wide receivers, Smith had more catches and yards than everyone else combined.
Division II transfer Jalen Brooks was considered a potential No. 2 option last year, but he wasn’t made eligible by the NCAA until midway through the season — and when he did, he struggled with consistency and never really broke out. Similarly, Xavier Legette was mentioned as a potential sophomore breakout candidate, especially as a deep threat, but he faded after a solid opener.
South Carolina’s run game was solid in 2020 and is expected to once more be a strength in 2021. But if receiving threats don’t emerge to replace Smith, defenses will be more willing than ever to stack the box and sell out against the rush.
Can a USC upperclassman break through?
Redshirt seniors OrTre Smith and Randrecous Davis are both back after opting out of the 2020 season because of COVID-19, and both are former well-regarded recruits who have battled injuries throughout their careers.
Senior Josh Vann returns after three seasons never quite reaching his potential as one of the highest-rated wide receiver recruits in recent program history. Redshirt junior Dakereon Joyner has flashed electric play-making ability since switching positions from quarterback.
All four are veteran players who, for one reason or another, have never put it all together. Will a coaching change be enough for one or two to flip the switch?
Will the newcomers star early in Columbia?
The Gamecocks welcome a pair of intriguing transfers to the roster this spring in Ahmarean Brown, coming from Georgia Tech, and E.J. Jenkins, formerly of FCS Saint Francis. There’s also a freshman newcomer in speedster Sam Reynolds.
Brown and Jenkins in particular seem like they could provide an instant boost to a depleted unit badly in need of playmakers. At Tech, Brown put up massive numbers in 2019, tying Hall of Famer Calvin Johnson’s program record for most receiving touchdowns by a freshman. His second season, however, was marked by a regression in every statistical category.
Jenkins, meanwhile, stands a staggering 6-foot-7, 242 pounds. He’s tied with two others as the tallest player on the entire roster, and no other wide receiver can compete with his size. He used that to feast at the FCS level, hauling in 13 touchdowns in his last full season, often on jump balls in the end zone. Defensive backs will be bigger and faster in the SEC, but they still might not be able to match him.
