There’s a blueprint for how Nyck Harbor’s freshman year might go, USC great says
Nyck Harbor is the most hyped South Carolina football signee since Jadeveon Clowney.
But Gamecock great Todd Ellis predicts that Harbor’s freshman year will look more like wide receiver Alshon Jeffery’s.
Ellis, current USC play-by-play announcer and an all-time South Carolina quarterback great, told the Mac & Bone podcast in a show that aired Monday that he thinks Harbor will take a few games to get acclimated to college football — just like Jeffery needed six games. By then, a positive impact will be imminent, Ellis said.
Through his first five games with USC in 2009, Jeffery combined for 61 yards on five catches. In game No. 6 against Kentucky, he exploded for 138 yards and three touchdowns on seven receptions.
Jeffery needed those first five contests in 2019 to get used to the “high level of competition going on every play,” Ellis said. “How to practice, how to block, how to do the smaller things that you need to do and then let his athletic ability take over. I think Harbor, if he’s gonna stay at wide receiver, it’s gonna take that kind of little bit of time.”
Jeffery went on to be a highlight maker and statistical leader for the Gamecocks. He finished the 2010 season with 88 catches for 1,517 yards — both school records. He’s third in career receptions (183), second in career receiving yardage (3,042) and tied for most receiving TDs (23).
Ellis went on to draw further comparison between Clowney and Harbor, remarking on the five-star freshman’s potential at tight end.
“He’s the Jadeveon Clowney of split-out wide receivers,” Ellis said. “I mean, he looks different than everybody else. He runs different than everybody else. He looks 35 years old coming into college. I mean, there’s just a few of those guys we all know that were maturing faster, were better at development. And I don’t know if you can keep his body at wide receiver after a long time.”
Ellis said he has faith in Harbor’s “world-class speed” at wide receiver. (Harbor also runs track.) But the all-time career passer in USC history (9,953 yards) sees incredible potential for the 6-foot-5, 241-pound freshman at two other positions as well.
“He may be the greatest tight end ever being built right now at the college level or defensive rush end,” Ellis said.
Five-star Gamecocks signees
Ranked by player rating assigned by 247Sports
1. Jadeveon Clowney (2011)
2. Jordan Burch (2020)
3. Marcus Lattimore (2010)
4. Demetrius Summers (2003)
5. Zacch Pickens (2019)
6. Nyck Harbor (2023)
This story was originally published July 18, 2023 at 7:15 AM with the headline "There’s a blueprint for how Nyck Harbor’s freshman year might go, USC great says."
