Jody Wright details Nyck Harbor's recruitment, what he brings to South Carolina
Shane Beamer certainly delved deep into the signing day drama that ultimately netted South Carolina Nyckoles Harbor. But one assistant got to give his take on it the other day.
Tight ends coach Jody Wright–who was part of the Gamecocks’ team taking point on Harbor’s recruitment–spoke about the 12-hour sprint that signing day brought.
“It was fun with Nyckoles but it was definitely up to the last minute with some decisions,” Wright said, smirking. “I think he’s a young man where his heart was always in South Carolina. And this is where he felt comfortable. I know me, Sterling and the whole staff were battling and scratching and clawing until the end.”
[Subscribe to Gamecock Central until Aug. 31 for only $29.99!]
Wright and Beamer worked in tandem with edges coach Sterling Lucas–the three main coaches for Harbor’s recruitment–to bring him back in the Gamecocks’ boat.
Reports started surfacing about Harbor trending away from South Carolina early Wednesday morning, just a few hours before his ceremony.
But the Gamecocks’ staff put on a full-court press in the minutes leading up to his announcement where he committed and signed with South Carolina.
“It’s a testament to coach Beamer. He’s a great closer and basically what he sold him were this program and his vision,” Wright said. From the first time Nyckoles visited here and his first interaction with coach Beamer, he came back to that and it was a huge factor in him coming here.”
Top 10
- 1
Elko pokes at Kiffin
A&M coach jokes over kick times
- 2Trending
Dan Lanning
Oregon coach getting NFL buzz
- 3
Bryce Underwood
Michigan prepared to offer No. 1 recruit $10.5M over 4 years
- 4Hot
5-star flip
Ole Miss flips Alabama WR commit Caleb Cunningham
- 5
Second CFP Top 25
Newest CFP rankings are out
[Become an NIL supporter of your South Carolina Gamecocks!]
Relationships won out, and now South Carolina adds on a five-star talent to what is an offense ready to take the next step under first-year coordinator Dowell Loggains.
The five-star prospect and No. 31 player in On3’s rankings, Harbor is an Olympic-level sprinter who Wright thinks can impact the offense in a myriad of ways.
“Nyck, he’s a special young man number one. But he’s a special talent with his speed. He’s got really good ball skills,” Wright said. “Watching him run, he’s big and long and covers a lot of ground. We’re excited to use him. That’s the thing. Whether it’s on offense or special teams, just the length and skillset he brings, there are a lot of different ways you can use him to maximize that.”
[Subscribe for free to Gamecock Central’s YouTube page!]
Where Harbor plays when he gets on campus is the next question, though. Wright recruited him as the tight ends coach. But Beamer mentioned once Harbor signed he’ll be doing some flex tight end stuff with receiver mixed in as well.
Wright doesn’t care where Harbor plays at South Carolina as long as it ends with plenty of scoring.
“We’re excited,” Wright said. “When we were recruiting him we told him we’d just let him run some touchdown routes. Run really fast and throw it up. We’re excited to get him here.”
