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Nyckoles Harbor is wrapping up his freshman 12 months at South Carolina as a dual-sport athlete. The freaky expertise fits up for the soccer crew within the fall whereas operating observe within the spring for the Gamecocks.
That second precedence has prompted a little bit of a scheduling battle with spring apply, which Shane Beamer’s bunch simply capped with Saturday’s Spring Recreation. Harbor was not a participant in that scrimmage because of these non-football associated duties.
The 6-5, 240-pound move catcher arrived in Columbia with a lot fanfare. The highest rated ‘athlete’ in his respective recruiting class, he made an prompt impression on the sector with 12 receptions for 195 yards and a rating.
His 16.3 yard per catch common ranked second on the crew to solely main receiver Xavier Legette.
An enormous play menace when on the sector, he’s hoping to construct on that stable freshman marketing campaign. Sadly, Harbor’s dedication to trace stored him on the sidelines within the spring season’s most anticipated soccer occasion.
Although he was listed on Saturday’s roster, the receiver was nowhere to be discovered. Many requested about that absence all through the day.
Shane Beamer held his playmaker out of the motion throughout South Carolina’s Garnet & Black Recreation, believing his observe goals to be extra necessary than this last apply.
Shane Beamer: Nyck Harbor is mad at him. He needed to play as we speak.
Beamer refused. Had no want for him to get damage tonight and price him an opportunity at a possible Olympics.
— David Cloninger (@DCPandC) April 21, 2024
Nyckoles Harbor is coaching for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
It was an aspiration made clear throughout the recruiting course of, and one which Coach Beamer has honored to this point within the wideout’s first 12 months on campus.
In spring, the main target is on observe. After that, it shifts again to the gridiron.
And the truth that Harbor is prospering in his second sport as a real freshman provides much more motive to place all power into the present observe season.
The speedster was dominant in his first ever 60m sprint, flying by his competitors with relative ease.
He adopted that unbelievable efficiency up by setting a brand new private document with a ten.12-second time within the 100m on the USC Open on Saturday. It was the third-best time in program historical past!
The 100m finals didn’t disappoint!#onecockymind #cockyandconfident pic.twitter.com/uV5cZcWu6f
— Gamecock Observe & XC (@GamecockTrack) April 20, 2024
He additionally completed second general within the 200m.
His head coach wasn’t going to let him threat damage by suiting up for the soccer crew later that evening!
Whereas South Carolina followers weren’t capable of see Nyckoles Harbor on the sector this weekend, he’s positive to make his presence felt come fall. Although his full consideration hasn’t been placed on the gridiron of late, he’s remained engaged with the crew as a lot as doable whereas additionally juggling his observe and sophistication schedules (Did we point out he additionally desires to change into a physician??).
It will likely be enjoyable to comply with his potential Olympic path, in addition to his journey into the upcoming soccer season.
