3 future Gamecocks’ versatility on full display at Shrine Bowl this week
Three future South Carolina Gamecock football players are quite busy this week during Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas practice.
South Pointe’s J’Zavien Currence, Greenwood’s Triston Lewis and Cross High’s Caden Ramsey bounced around from offense to defense during Shrine Bowl practice Tuesday morning at Spartanburg High School.
Another future Gamecock, Indian Land’s Sequel Patterson, is playing defensive back this week but will be playing receiver for the Gamecocks.
Currence, listed as an athlete on the roster, split time at receiver and defensive back. Ramsey, also listed as an athlete, saw time on offense at tight end, on defense as a safety and even handled long-snapping duties.
“It’s nothing really,” Ramsey said of playing multiple positions. “We are just trying to come out and do what we can do to help South Carolina win.”
Lewis, one of the three quarterbacks listed on the S.C. roster, saw limited time at QB and was mostly at defensive back during the two practices Tuesday. He broke his left hand in Greenwood’s final game and will likely be limited to just defense this week. The annual all-star game is Saturday and pits the best in South Carolina against their counterparts from North Carolina.
“It is fun,” Lewis said of the multiple positions. “We are out here to win and have fun. Whatever helps the team win.”
Playing multiple positions is nothing new for the trio. It’s something that they’ve done for most of their high-school careers.
Currence played quarterback, receiver and defensive back during his time at South Pointe. He began the year at receiver and defensive back before moving to quarterback during the first half of the season opener against Hough High (N.C.).
Currence remained at quarterback and helped the Stallions to the 4A state championship. As a quarterback, he amassed 4,403 total yards and 44 total TDs this season — to go with 87 tackles and four interceptions on defense — in winning S.C. Gatorade Player of the Year honors.
The 6-foot-5 Ramsey was a two-way starter for Cross and helped the Trojans to the Class A Lower State championship game . He led the team with 55 catches for 778 yards and 15 total touchdowns and also was tops with seven interceptions.
The 6-foot-3 Lewis played primarily at quarterback this season for Greenwood, with just a handful of snaps at defensive back. He set a school-record with 423 yards passing against Dorman earlier this season and finished with 3,341 total yards and 37 total touchdowns.
Lewis also is a baseball standout — his top pitch was clocked at 93 mph at a Diamond Prospects Showcase in May. He does not plan to play baseball at USC.
The trio’s ability will be a plus as they begin their college careers. Currence and Lewis will enroll in January, while Ramsey plans to play high school basketball in the winter before enrolling at USC in the summer.
The Gamecocks want the 6-foot-4 Currence at defensive back, but he is open to playing on either side of the ball.
“They want me to play everywhere in the back end (secondary),” Currence said. “And if everything goes right, then play some offense.”
Wherever he plays, USC coach Shane Beamer said he should make a quick impact. The Gamecocks are losing a pair of defensive backs to the NFL Draft in Brandon Cisse and Jalon Kilgore.
“Yeah, he’s just got that it factor, whatever that is. He’s a heck of a football player ,” Beamer said of Currence at his signing day press conference earlier this month. “ … He’s a day one impact guy, in my opinion, has all the qualities you’re looking for in an elite football player.”
This story was originally published December 16, 2025 at 1:40 PM.
