Outlet places two Gamecocks in top 11 college football returnees, three in top 100 overall

This weekend, College Football Network’s Oliver Hodgkinson unveiled his rankings of the top 100 returning players to college football, and three standout Gamecocks made the list, including two sophomores in the top 11.

According to CFN, South Carolina’s Nyck Harbor, LaNorris Sellers, and Dylan Stewart are among the nation’s most promising talents heading into spring practice. Harbor, a junior wide receiver, ranks 88th, while redshirt sophomore quarterback Sellers checks in at No. 11, and sophomore EDGE Stewart secures the No. 2 spot.

Hodgkinson’s ranking of Harbor is based on his projected growth this season. Highlighting Harbor’s flashes of brilliance in 2024, coupled with his “ludicrous athletic profile,” Hodgkinson believes that USC offensive coordinator Mike Shula could give the 6’5″ speedster a bigger role in the offense this fall. Harbor almost doubled his production from his freshman to sophomore year, and another leap could position him among the top talents in the SEC. Last season, he showcased his best performance late in the year and, notably, he’s focused exclusively on football this winter, forgoing indoor track.

Sellers, ranked No. 11, also concluded the 2024 season on a strong note. In fact, he was one of the nation’s best players in November. Hodgkinson is high on the Gamecocks’ quarterback heading into his second season as the starter, calling him “one of the most exciting players at any position that you’ll see in college football this season.” Hodgkinson adds that Sellers playing to his full potential could lead to both team success and individual accolades. Sellers was named the first South Carolina quarterback to earn All-SEC honors from the league’s coaches last year, and the Gamecocks narrowly missed out on the College Football Playoff. A continued progression from Sellers could elevate USC to new heights.

As for Stewart, he ranks second overall on the CFN list, just behind Ohio State’s Jeremiah Smith. After a stellar freshman season that saw him claim multiple Freshman of the Year honors, Hodgkinson called Stewart’s 2024 performance “one of the most dominant performances off the edge by a freshman that we’ve seen in recent history.” While his stats didn’t fully reflect his impact, Stewart is expected to be even more dangerous in 2025. If South Carolina hopes to overcome what could be a record number of defenders selected in the 2025 NFL Draft, Stewart will be key to their success.

Former Gamecocks Corey Rucker (wide receiver, Arkansas State) and O’Mega Blake (wide receiver, Arkansas) also made the list, ranking 91st and 43rd, respectively.

Looking ahead to 2025, South Carolina will face 21 players from the CFN Top 100. Only one of their opponents has more players in the rankings than the Gamecocks. The rival Clemson Tigers landed five players on the list, while Alabama, LSU, and Vanderbilt (yes, you read that correctly) each had three. Ole Miss, Missouri, and Texas A&M each have two players represented, and even one Oklahoma Sooner cracked the top 100.