Shane Beamer identifies who can step up in the absence of Juice Wells

South Carolina suffered a major blow to its receiving corps this past week as Juice Wells is out for Week 4 with a foot injury. Wells has been dealing with the injury since the preseason and reaggravated it in Saturday’s loss to Georgia.

Fortunately, the injury isn’t thought to be season-ending, but the Gamecocks still need other players to step up in the time being. Senior receiver Xavier Legette has been the leading pass catcher for South Carolina so far as Wells was limited in the first two games. O’Mega Blake led the team in Week 3 with five catches for 86 yards.

Those two players will need to continue to be productive in Wells’ absence.

“Since the beginning of preseason practice, we’ve practiced more without Juice than we have with Juice unfortunately,” Beamer said. “Certainly we can’t just ride Xavier Legette until his legs fall off. We need other guys to step up. You saw O’Mega has done some nice things and we did some things on Saturday at the tight end position with Trey (Knox) and Josh (Simon). We need those guys to continue to come along.”

It’s not just Juice Wells that South Carolina is missing. The Gamecocks were also without receiver Ahmarean Brown this past week after he suffered a right leg injury in Week 2. He did not practice on Tuesday.

South Carolina interestingly turned to backup quarterback Luke Doty to start at receiver with Brown out on Saturday. He ended the game with three catches for 14 yards. Beamer mentioned him as someone who will continue to play a role in the receiving game.

The coach floated the idea that true freshmen Nyckoles Harbor and Tyshawn Russell could receive more playing time. Both players recorded a touchdown in Week 2 against Furman.

Harbor is a five-star prospect who ranked as the No. 21 overall player and No. 1 athlete in the 2023 cycles according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

If Juice doesn’t play and AB doesn’t play, that’s technically two starting receivers that you’re not playing with,” Beamer said. “Luke Doty needs to continue to come along. Eddie Lewis needs to continue to come along. We need to play Nyckoles Harbor and Tyshawn Russell more and we will. Those guys, we’ve gotta throw ’em in there.

“Our guys are aware of that. They have to do their part as well, these young receivers. Making sure they know what to do and that we can count on ’em when we put ’em in there.”

South Carolina kicks off against Mississippi State at 7:30 p.m. ET on Saturday in Columbia.