Nyck Harbor raves about early USC time: ‘I can’t wait to spend my college career here’
Before the news of five-star edge Dylan Stewart’s commitment to South Carolina this week, Shane Beamer’s biggest recruiting splash with the Gamecocks was undoubtedly the signing of Nyck Harbor.
The 6-foot-5, 230-pound athlete from Washington, D.C. is widely considered a generational talent in track and field — and a little more raw as a pure football player — but when USC reeled in Harbor back in February, the Gamecocks were the talk of college football around the country.
With USC hosting its on-campus football media day Thursday — one day before the start of practice — Harbor spoke to reporters for the first time, and he reflected on the hoopla that surrounded his commitment.
“I would say like handling it, you just can’t let it get to your head,” Harbor said. “I don’t want to see myself as a larger-than-life superstar. I’m a regular 18-year-old kid.”
Harbor said his excitement is “through the roof” about starting training camp on Friday.
There was rampant speculation about which position the two-sport athlete might play at the college level, from tight end to the defensive side of the ball. But the Gamecocks are working to develop Harbor as a wide receiver in order to utilize his elite speed to stretch the field. Harbor said he’s still learning about the receiver position and especially how to read defensive coverages.
Both Beamer and receivers coach Justin Stepp praised Harbor for his work ethic during Thursday’s media day, talking about the way he attacks his work each day and the effort he’s putting into learning the nuances of the receiver position.
“Early impressions are, first of all, he’s a fantastic young man, an unbelievable person, keeps me on my toes because he’s always critiquing my shoes or whatever I’m wearing,” Beamer said, laughing. “He’s on his way, and as I’ve talked about before, we just got to be smart about this.
“He’s 18 years old, fresh out of high school. So let’s understand there’s gonna be some growing pains, but he works at it. And it’s very, very, very businesslike and professional in how he handles his business on and off the field.”
Harbor is also expected to compete for USC’s track and field team, which hired new coach Tim Hall this summer after the retirement of longtime head coach Curtis Frye. Harbor said there was no doubt in his mind that he would run track, especially with the 2024 Olympics on deck. Winning a medal is a dream of his.
But for now, he’s focused on football and his role with Beamer’s Gamecocks, and he’s especially enjoying the culture of the program.
“I’m loving it,” Harbor said. “I can’t wait to spend my college career here. With the coaching staff, things have just gotten better. Nothing’s changed. Nobody changed. I feel like just like the relationships and everything just improved.
“And I feel like that’s how it’s gonna be for like every person that’s in South Carolina. They don’t show fake love.”
This story was originally published August 3, 2023 at 5:02 PM.
