Shane Beamer details the process of helping Nyckoles Harbor transition to receiver

South Carolina is on a promising track under third-year coach Shane Beamer, whose recruiting has helped create plenty of optimism. No get was bigger than his five-star signee in 2023, though Nyckoles Harbor‘s transition to receiver could take a little time.

The 6-foot-5, 225-pound track star from Washington D.C. played everywhere in high school, but he’s relatively light on experience at receiver, where the Gamecocks plan to start him.

“We’re fortunate that he did that a little bit obviously in high school, it’s not like he’s never caught the ball or run a route or played receiver before,” Beamer said. “So he’s got a baseline from that standpoint. He’s got obviously great athletic ability and instincts, so that helps. That’s what you can’t coach.”

No you cannot.

It’s hard to find 10.3 speed in the 100-meter dash period. It’s infinitely harder to find it in a guy who is Harbor’s size.

That could potentially make him an absolute matchup nightmare on offense, particularly with a more seasoned quarterback who now knows the South Carolina system fairly well. You can bet Spencer Rattler will be itching to try out his new target to see what he can do.

First, though, Nyckoles Harbor’s transition to receiver must begin in earnest. That will take a lot of work.

“Justin Stepp and our offensive coaches will be able to really work with him individually and directly from a mental and physical standpoint, getting him ready for practice, which is something that we weren’t able to do in recent years,” Beamer said. “So between all of that, getting him out there, and again, we never want to do anything with a player that he can’t do, but Nyck is really athletic and instinctive and he’ll be fine making that transition.”

As Beamer pointed out, one thing working in favor of the Nyckoles Harbor transition is the time coaches can spend with him this offseason.

That’s only become possible due to NCAA rule changes in recent years.

However, you can bet the Gamecocks will take full advantage, knowing the potential upside if Harbor can get up to speed at receiver quickly.

“I just think the fact that the summertime he’ll get there in June and have almost two months of development before we actually start practice (is huge),” Beamer said.