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Shane Beamer says landing a five-star is 'extremely impactful'

IMG_0985by:Griffin McVeigh02/02/23

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South Carolina HC Shane Beamer
Katie Dugan | GamecockCentral

South Carolina can consider itself a big winner of February’s Signing Day, landing Washington (DC) Archbishop Carroll five-star ATH Nyckoles Harbor. Going up against the likes of Maryland and Oregon, head coach Shane Beamer was able to pull in one of the biggest freaks of the 2023 cycle, who is projected to slot right in at tight end.

The decision to sign with the Gamecocks shocked the country, being the second On3 Consensus non-in-state five-star in program history. Beamer called Harbor’s commitment an “impactful” one, with everyone talking about South Carolina football on Wednesday.

“It’s extremely impactful,” Beamer said. “Particularly when it’s a national guy that announces on national television today like (Nyckoles) did. It resonates not just here in South Carolina put across the country — people are talking about this.”

A big-time commitment sends wrinkle through more than just its own recruiting class. Beamer said 2024 guys have already started to reach out, excited about Harbor’s signing.

The way to get to an elite level in college football is by stacking top-ranked class after top-ranked class. Beamer had the first of his tenure with South Carolina and could get a jump start on the next one in the near future.

“Like I said a minute ago about the number of 2024 recruits reaching out to me right now,” Beamer said. “Just a ton of messages from family, friends, whoever. I don’t think you can put it into words. It just caps off what was an already elite signing class in my mind with the group of young men that we already brought into the program that signed in December.”

Even for people who cover South Carolina football or college football in general, recruiting is not always a point of discussion. Especially when it comes down to a singular player. Harbor is quite different though, being the elite prospect he is and making waves throughout the sports world.

“People that don’t cover recruiting, just sports writers and the national media, talking about South Carolina football right now,” Beamer said. “It’s great publicity, so much positivity and energy out there about South Carolina football.”

Harbor will not only play football at South Carolina but also run track. He has a goal of making the Olympic team for the summer games in Paris 2024. Although he is thought of as an elite prospect both offensively and defensively, Harbor will play tight end to keep his weight down for track season.

Beamer would be ecstatic to play Harbor anywhere on the field, being the athlete he is. With the thrill of National Signing Day being taken out by the one in December, nobody celebrated harder than South Carolina.