Greenville High teammates stand out for Shane Beamer, South Carolina coaching staff
Mazeo Bennett definitely had the attention of the South Carolina football staff on Thursday.
The Greenville junior receiver was back at USC with his teammates to take part in the first Shane Beamer 7-on-7 tournament of the summer. It was Bennett’s second trip to the campus in the past week.
Bennett came down to an individual camp last week but didn’t take part in drills. Instead of working out, he ended up being a counselor for the event. USC receivers coach Justin Stepp followed Bennett and Greenville closely throughout the tournament, attending most of his games along with offensive coordinator Marcus Satterfield.
On Bennett’s way out of the Steve and Jerri Spurrier Indoor facility, Stepp yelled out to him how he thought he was the best receiver in the Class of 2024.
“He was following us the whole day,” Bennett said of Stepp. “The biggest draw is the love Coach Stepp has for me and the emphasis he has on that every time I am here. He makes sure to know that he loves me and wants me to stay at home.”
Bennett had a strong performance in the tournament, leading Greenville to a top-four finish. The 6-foot, 165-pound receiver made a few acrobatic grabs and showed off his speed on several touchdown catches.
“I did my thing today, and I feel like they know what I could do,” said Bennett who was wearing USC gloves during the games and sporting a Gamecocks bucket hat leaving the facility. “Their message to me is I am the best receiver in the country. “They tell me that every time I come and why wouldn’t I stay home.
“It is always love with every coach. Coach (Shane) Beamer, we have good talks. The family atmosphere is great and the emphasis on team is what draws me the most to USC.”
In addition to USC, Bennett is hearing a lot from Tennessee, North Carolina, Florida State, Miami, Virginia Tech. Michigan State and Louisville offered last month.
Bennett said he plans to take more visits in the summer but he’s sure he will be back at USC for games in the fall. He hopes to announce his college choice in the summer going into his senior year.
247Sports Composite ranks Bennett as a four-star prospect and No. 3 in South Carolina for the Class of 2024 behind Woodland offensive lineman Kam Pringle and Dillon offensive lineman Josiah Thompson, two other Gamecocks targets.
Bennett is coming off a big junior season in which he caught 25 passes for 661 yards and five touchdowns in helping the Red Raiders to the Class 4A Upper State championship. With the graduation of Josh Sapp and Aaliijah Kelly, his workload will increase more this season as the Red Raiders are breaking in a new quarterback.
Blake Franks picks up Gamecocks offer
Bennett’s teammate and Class of 2024 offensive lineman Blake Franks picked up an offer from South Carolina on Thursday.
The 6-foot-6, 310 pound offensive tackle attended the OL/DL camp and was granted the offer shortly after.
The Greenville High School 7-on-7 team was in between games when Franks received the news and quickly mobbed him in celebration.
“At first like I’m shocked,” Franks told The State. ”Then I go inside to the indoor (practice facility) and my team just started surrounding me. It’s just a nice feeling.”
Franks told The State that at the moment South Carolina is in his top-three choices of schools based on his current offers.
According to 247 Sports, Franks has also been offered by Liberty, Louisville, Miami (Florida), Miami (Ohio), Ole Miss and South Florida.
Notes
▪ South Carolina also offered another in-state offensive lineman on Thursday in Lake City’s Amare Adams. He attended USC’s OL/DL camp.
The 6-foot-6, 280-pound Adams played last season at Central but announced this week he was moving to Lake City High School where his father is boys basketball coach. He also plays basketball and baseball.
▪ Spartanburg won the 7-on-7 by defeating Chester in the championship.
▪ Midlands teams Gray Collegiate, AC Flora and Ben Lippen were in the 12-team field. Gray went 5-0 in pool play before losing to Greenville.
▪ A second 7-on-7 event will be held on Friday with two more scheduled for next week.
This story was originally published June 16, 2022 at 4:44 PM.
