Could South Carolina have the SEC’s most impactful freshman class? This site says yes

Shane Beamer has been adamant the Gamecocks are going to play freshmen — and there are a few that are already receiving some offseason noise.

Five-star athlete Nyckoles Harbor, safety Jalon Kilgore, running back Dontavious Braswell, linebacker Grayson “Pup” Howard and offensive lineman Markee Anderson were included in 247Sports’ 100 True Freshmen who will impact the 2023 football season list.

The Gamecocks’ five players were the most among the 14 Southeastern Conference schools. Alabama (four), Florida (four) and Georgia (three) had the next most players listed.

Harbor (No. 15 overall, No. 1 ATH) is the highest-rated player to sign with South Carolina since Beamer took over as head coach following the 2020 season. The Washington, D.C., product is expected to play wide receiver at the next level, where he can flash his world-class speed and help complement a group that will include upperclassmen Antwane “Juice” Wells Jr., Xavier Legette, Ahmarean Brown and Dakereon Joyner, among others.

“The crown jewel of South Carolina’s 2023 class, Harbor almost has to play, right?” 247Sports’ Chris Hummer wrote. “And good luck keeping an athlete like him off the field. This dude is a FREAK. Harbor is 6-foot-5, 225 pounds and has clocked a 10.28-second 100-meter dash.”

Braswell may have the most immediate impact among USC’s freshmen given the need for bodies at running back. The Gamecocks lost MarShawn Lloyd (Southern Cal) and Rashad Amos (Miami Ohio) to the transfer portal and had just two scholarship tailbacks — returner Juju McDowell and Newberry College transfer Mario Anderson — go through spring practice. Joyner, too, took significant spring reps at running back and could factor in.

That said, Braswell figures to be in line for significant touches. The four-star recruit was rated the No. 15 running back in the class and was coached by former Georgia standout and first round NFL draft pick Robert Edwards at Washington County High School (GA).

“The Gamecocks are really thin at running back,” Hummer wrote. “REALLY thin. That’s potentially a problem heading into the season, but it creates an opportunity for Braswell as he enrolls this summer. ... The 5-foot-11, 200-pound back has posted a 10.72-second 100-meter dash and has also gone sub-22 seconds in the 200. He’s type of presence who could provide some pop for a RB room that had the third-fewest runs of 20-plus yards in the SEC last season.”

Kilgore, Anderson and Howard’s roles remain a bit TBD heading into the summer. The Gamecocks lost starting cornerbacks Cam Smith and Darius Rush to the NFL draft, but they return freshmen safety standouts Nick Emmanwori and DQ Smith. Kilgore, at the least, should find some time on special teams or in possible nickel packages behind veteran David Spaulding.

Howard should also find some time on special teams and, potentially, in the rotation at linebacker. South Carolina graduated sixth-year seniors Sherrod Greene and Brad Johnson, leaving Debo Williams and second-year player Stone Blanton as the most likely candidates to fill those voids.

Anderson has earned rave reviews from the coaching staff since enrolling in January. The former Dorman standout figures to be a guard at the college level and could push for some time behind Yale transfer Nick Gargiulo, Tyshawn Wannamaker and Trai Jones. It’s difficult for freshmen to break into the rotation on the line in any league, particularly in the SEC, but Anderson may find himself on the field in some capacity.

“Anderson had a good spring as an early enrollee and comes in with obvious college-ready size (6-foot-4, 320 pounds),” Hummer wrote. “But the real urgency with Anderson is South Carolina’s depth, which took a huge hit when starting LT Jaylen Nichols suffered a ‘significant’ knee injury. That thrust Anderson squarely in the two deep, to the point that Beamer has already said Anderson would play.”