'It's been a great year believe it or not': Josh Vann reflects on unique fifth year with Gamecocks

Josh Vann emerged as South Carolina’s go-to guy last year.

The wide receiver was an integral part of the offense and was a rare piece of consistency in the passing game with his team-leading 43 catches for 679 yards and five touchdowns.

Vann – a senior at the time – could’ve easily used his last year to catapult him up draft boards and declare for the NFL draft, but he didn’t.

Instead, Vann decided to return to Columbia for a fifth year and even more glory with the Gamecocks – but it hasn’t quite gone that way.

Through 10 games Vann is sixth in receiving on the team and only has 14 catches for 162 yards. At this point last year he had 36 catches for 603 yards.

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He ended last season on a few All-SEC team lists but it doesn’t look like he’s headed in that direction now – but he’s perfectly ok with that.

“Deciding to come back, it’s really been a one-of-a-kind year,” Vann said. “Coming back I was thinking I was going to have all the accolades, 1,000 yards receiving, 50 catches and it ain’t been like that. I’ve really just been taking everything in, day by day to cherish these games, these practices with my brothers (and) these coaches.”

Shane Beamer said he believes Vann has been “awesome” this year, despite his dip in production, but it was something that Beamer thought may happen anyway.

“When Josh came back I can remember sitting in my office with him and telling him ‘Look, if you’re coming back thinking that you’re gonna catch 100 balls next season, you’re probably not.’,” Beamer said. “I knew we had some other receivers coming along, we would have more depth on offense. It would’ve been hard for anybody.”

Beamer was almost prophetic in that sense. The South Carolina wide receiver room gained this year’s standout in Juice Wells and has seen increased production from Jalen Brooks and Jaheim Bell.

He told Vann that he would need to step up in his time on the field, to make the best of his playing time and improve in ways that wouldn’t necessarily earn him accolades. 

“In my mind, he may not have the accolades or stats that he wants,” Beamer said. “But, he certainly has helped himself as a wide receiver and from a special teams standpoint.”

Vann has been the Gamecocks’ main return man this year, taking back 11 punts for 155 yards so far this year. The last player to return punts for over 100 yards was Bryan Edwards in 2019, and the last to total more than 150 yards was Ace Sanders in 2012 who brought in 429 yards.

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If all fairs well for Vann through the end of the season, this will be the second time he’s led South Carolina in punt return yards. 

Vann’s increased role on special teams has allowed him to take a step back and take everything in as his time as a Gamecock comes to a close.

“I’m the guy, but I’m not the guy this year,” Vann said. “Knowing to let my other teammates cherish that and just being a player, a coach, a mentor, a brother and a father. It’s really just been everything all at once and it’s been a great year believe it or not.”

Juju McDowell is one of the younger players on the roster who has taken many lessons away from Vann in his short time with South Carolina. 

Getting to know Vann has been “life altering” for McDowell, who said he’s gotten to know Vann as a human being and father – not just a football player. 

“Him being able to come into an environment that we all projected Josh to not be in, and take a completely different trajectory and make the best out of it – which he is doing – and still be able to be a great teammates, a great father, a great student, there’s not too many people that have the mental stability to do that,” McDowell said.

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The journey Vann has been on this year has inspired McDowell to make improvements on the field himself. 

“Just seeing Josh progress through that on a daily basis is amazing,” McDowell said. “It does nothing but want to make you progress more as a person – not even in football, just in life.”

South Carolina’s matchup with Tennessee on Saturday will be Vann’s last game at Williams-Brice as a Gamecock. He joked he’s so busy outside of football he hasn’t had enough time to fully reflect on it. 

“It’s been a ride, one last game in Willy B, it’ll be special,” Vann said. “You’ve got the Vols coming in and what other way than to go out with those guys coming in…hope I don’t get too emotional but it’ll be one to remember.”

With his college career winding down, Beamer lauded Vann for how much he’s grown in just this season alone.

“He’s been fantastic, he’s a leader for us, he’s matured for us in so many ways, on and off the field – really, really proud of Josh and everything he’s about,” Beamer said.

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