Five redshirt freshmen I’m watching closely this preseason

The old cliche football coaches use is the biggest growth for a player comes from year one to year two. And South Carolina is hoping that’s the case for everybody in the 2022 class who enrolled last year. 

The Gamecocks had a multitude of freshmen contribute to an eight-win regular season while some got to sit and wait their turn as redshirts. 

But just cause a player is redshirted doesn’t mean he won’t contribute. In fact, here are five redshirts I’ll be watching closely as camp kicks off in a week. 

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Keenan Nelson Jr.

Nelson was one of the more highly-ranked players in the class, second only to Stone Blanton. He redshirted in part because there were two entrenched starters–Cam Smith and Darius Rush at corner–and the secondary was largely settled. 

But he did start for the Gamecocks in the Gator Bowl, finishing with a 52.2 PFF grade and a 63.3 grade in run defense. Nelson finished with six tackles, three of which were considered stops by PFF. He allowed six catches for 58 yards on nine targets. He did have one pass breakup. 

With the Gamecocks having some depth concerns in the secondary needing to replace guys like Smith, Rush, RJ Roderick and Devonni Reed, Nelson could be someone that steps up. 

A big camp from him could solidify him as an option at nickel or in the rotation at one of the corner spots.

Cason Henry

Shane Beamer spoke very highly of Henry during South Carolina bowl practice. Henry is a true tackle who has the body to play that position at the SEC level. Henry, though, just hasn’t been healthy enough to show that. 

He missed all of spring practice with an injury and is about “85 percent,” according to Beamer. The expectation is he’ll be full-go by the North Carolina game. 

And the Gamecocks are going to need him. South Carolina has to find some answers along the offensive line, needing to replace two starting tackles last season in Dylan Wonnum and Jaylen Nichols. 

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If he can come back healthy and continue to develop, it helps the Gamecocks that much more depth-wise at tackle. It will be very interesting to see how he bounces back. And if he can use the next month to prepare him because there’s a chance he might play and play early. 

Peyton Williams

Williams is another highly-rated guy, a top-500 prospect in the 2022 class that flashed in just 54 snaps last season. His best game came against Tennessee (51 snaps) where he was thrust into action thanks to an injury. He ended up with a 60.1 PFF grade but certainly popped. 

He finished with two tackles but allowed just one reception for 41 yards on three targets with one pass breakup. Right now, the Gamecocks are young at safety and need to find depth and Williams can certainly be that guy. 

His trajectory in camp could go a long way in shouldering some of the losses in the secondary. 

Landon Samson

Samson was a big get at the time of his commitment with South Carolina dipping into Texas and plucking him from Southlake Carroll. The three-star receiver and top-500 guy didn’t play much last season, logging just four snaps total with all of those coming in the bowl game. 

There’s talent there and Justin Stepp told GamecockCentral he’s challenging Samson and the rest of those young receivers to come along this camp. If he can tap into that talent this camp, there’s a chance he chisels out a role in some capacity.

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The more options the better for Spencer Rattler and what should be on paper a good South Carolina passing attack. 

Tanner Bailey

Like Samson, Bailey was a big get at the time with South Carolina flipping him from Oregon after Joe Moorhead’s departure from the Ducks’ program. 

He came in and was buried on the depth chart behind the likes of Rattler and Luke Doty. But there were a lot of good things said about him and his talent. Bailey even started to travel by the end of the season to away games. 

He’s a four-star guy and the highest-rated offensive play from South Carolina’s 2022 class. Bailey had a quality spring game performance and, with a good camp, could see his value skyrocket even more. 

It will be fun to watch Bailey–along with the other quarterbacks in the room–push Doty at the backup quarterback spot.

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