Redshirt Tracker: Tracking the South Carolina freshmen through four games

South Carolina is now four games into its 2023 football season which means it’s an excellent time to start to investigate which freshmen are making an impact and which could be headed for a redshirt.

As a reminder, players can play in four games and still maintain their redshirt status.

In the past, we’ve seen players essentially fall into three categories: 1. playing with no designs of a redshirt, 2. playing but not going over four games and thus redshirting, 3. not playing at all or playing sparingly and redshirting.

While it can’t yet be completely determined which players will fall in each category, there is enough data already to start to get a pretty good idea of who will fall where.

** Games played data provided by GamecocksOnline and snaps data provided by PFF.

South Carolina football freshman participation

Name – Number of games (games played in)

S Jalon Kilgore – 4 (North Carolina, Furman, Georgia, Mississippi State)

NOTES: Not only has Kilgore played in all four games but he’s also leading the way in snaps played by a true freshman (on offense or defense) with 228 snaps through four games, according to PFF. Kilgore has been one of South Carolina’s best defenders, starting three of four games and playing the majority of the one game he didn’t start. He’s collected 27 tackles, 16 of which were solo. He’s one game away from burning his redshirt and will surely do so this week at Tennessee.

WR Nyckoles Harbor – 4 (UNC, FU, UGA, MSU)

NOTES: South Carolina fans have been begging for the former five-star speedster to get more of a chance and his reps will probably rise as the year progresses. So far, Harbor has played in all four games but with limited snaps. Harbor has played 49 snaps this season and has one catch for seven yards and a touchdown.

CB Judge Collier – 4 (UNC, FU, UGA, MSU)

NOTES: After primarily playing on special teams in Week 1, Collier has assumed the role of the Gamecocks’ third cornerback behind Marcellas Dial and O’Donnell Fortune. The Rock Hill native has played 70 snaps on defense, including a personal high 37 last week against MSU. That’s second-most among freshmen on defense. He also came up with an important fumble recovery on Saturday.

EDGE Desmond Umeozulu – 4 (UNC, FU, UGA, MSU)

NOTES: Umeozulu has played in all four games as a reserve pass-rusher playing 37 snaps so far this year. Umeozulu collected his first two career tackles and a QB hurry this past week at Mississippi State.

OT Tree Babalade – 3 (FU, UGA, MSU)

NOTES: Babalade got his first taste of action in Week 2 and then took over as a starter in Week 3, locking down the Gamecocks’ left tackle job. Babalade’s 163 snaps is tops on the team among freshmen on offense.

LB Pup Howard – 3 (FU, UGA, MSU)

NOTES: After sitting out the opener, the former four-star has played in the last three games, including 19 snaps against Mississippi State, according to PFF. Howard is Stone Blanton’s backup at middle linebacker and also plays on special teams with a prominent role on the kickoff coverage unit.

OG Trovon Baugh – 3 (FU, UGA, MSU)

NOTES: While Baugh has yet to make his first career start, much like Babalade, he has seen his snaps continue to increase as the year has progressed and could be in line for his first start soon.

CB Vicari Swain – 3 (UNC, FU, UGA)

NOTES: Swain played two snaps late against UNC and then 11 snaps with a tackle against Furman. He was also on the kickoff coverage team against Furman and Georgia.

WR Tyshawn Russell – 2 (FU, MSU)

NOTES: Russell made his debut on the depth chart this week and is working on the second team at one of the outside receiver spots. A late addition to the class, Russell has seen his potential for playing time continue to rise and seems likely to avoid a redshirt. Russell has played 39 snaps this season, according to PFF, and has three catches for 70 yards and a touchdown, a 50-yarder from LaNorris Sellers.

DL Xzavier McLeod – 2 (FU, UGA)

NOTES: The former four-star from Camden has gotten in two games, playing 19 snaps against Furman per PFF and then getting in for a couple of reps against UGA. McLeod grabbed an interception on a tipped pass and his first career tackle against the Paladins.

NICK Zahbari Sandy – 2 (FU, UGA)

NOTES: Sandy has played in two games this year, both on special teams, while getting eight snaps at nickelback against Furman.

RB DJay Braswell – 1 (FU)

NOTES: Braswell will likely eventually get to play more this season but so far he’s only gotten in against Furman when he had four carries for 17 yards.

QB LaNorris Sellers – 1 (FU)

NOTES: The big playmaking quarterback has played in just one game but he did provide South Carolina fans with a glimpse at the future when he completed all four of his passes for 86 yards and two touchdowns in late-game duty against Furman.

TE Connor Cox – 1 (FU)

NOTES: Cox made his South Carolina debut against Furman but has not played in other games. He is on the depth chart, though, essentially as the fourth tight end.

OT Jatavius Shivers – 1 (FU)

NOTES: It appears Shivers is headed for a redshirt but he did get five snaps in late duty against Furman.

WR Elijah Caldwell – Has not played

WR Kelton Henderson – Has not played

WR CJ Adams – Has not played

TE/RB Kam Sandlin – Has not played

TE Reid Mikeska – Has not played

OL Markee Anderson – Out for season with knee injury

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