Shane Beamer confirms Nyck Harbor is focusing on football over track

Nyck Harbor came to South Carolina as a two-sport athlete, and after a solid freshman season on the gridiron in 2023, Harbor showed off his skills on the track. In the spring of 2024, Harbor finished fifth at the SEC indoor track & field championships, clocking in at 20.87 seconds in the 200-meter dash.

Additionally, Harbor also recorded personal bests during the outdoor season of 10.11 seconds in the 100m dash and 20.20 seconds in the 200m, earning second-team All-America honors in both events.

With Harbor’s success on the track last season, fans were wondering whether Harbor would miss South Carolina’s spring camp again this season. On Saturday, Gamecocks head football coach Shane Beamer provided a definitive answer.

“He’s solely focusing on football right now and that was Nyck’s decision,” Beamer said. “That was something that he talked to us about. We had some conversations around the bowl, after the bowl, within the last couple of weeks, as far as what he wanted to do.

“I think he realized that he did a lot of good things in track last year but missing spring practice — I don’t want to say set him back, but it was more of a challenge to be ready for the season. I think he just wanted to really focus on football, not that track is over but right now, that’s where his focus is, is just football.”

Harbor took a significant step forward in his sophomore season for the Gamecocks, finishing the year with 26 catches for 376 yards and three touchdowns. For reference, Harbor recorded 12 receptions for 195 yards and a TD in his true freshman campaign.

By the end of this past season, Harbor had become one of South Carolina quarterback LaNorris Sellers‘ favorite targets. With Harbor solely giving his attention to football this spring, Gamecocks fans can expect his role to only grow this fall.

Of course, it’s probably easier for Nyck Harbor to give football all of his attention after receiving a reworked NIL deal from the Garnet Trust this past month. He isn’t alone. LaNorris Sellers and standout EDGE Dylan Stewart also signed new deals with the collective this offseason.

With his stars’ futures with the program secured, Shane Beamer will look to lead the Gamecocks to new heights next season. The program certainly doesn’t lack momentum after finishing the regular season on a six-game win streak.