South Carolina wide receiver mocked in NFL Draft's third round

There’s no player in the country quite like South Carolina’s Nyck Harbor. At 6-5 and 235 pounds, he is among the biggest wide receivers in college football. He is also one of (if not the) fastest, as he was an All-American sprinter as a freshman. That unicorn-level rare combination of size and speed has him firmly on NFL Draft radars.

According to Tankathon’s latest mock draft, Harbor could come off the board as high as the third round next spring. The current projection has the former five-star athlete as a match with the New England Patriots at pick No. 81. (The draft order is also a projection.) He has been listed as high as No. 61 (second round) this season.

Listed at No. 66 on the Tankathon Big Board, Harbor is the outlet’s No. 8 wide receiver, matching his USC jersey number. Only Arizona State’s Jordyn Tyson, Ohio State’s Carnell Tate, Southern Cal’s Makai Lemon, Washington’s Denzel Boston, Clemson’s Antonio Williams, Southern Cal’s Ja’Kobi Lane, and Auburn’s Eric Singleton Jr. rank ahead of Harbor.

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The high projection comes despite relatively modest production through three years of college football. However, the “eye test” shows that Harbor is a much better receiver than he was when he first arrived in Columbia.

Having never played the position (he was an EDGE and tight end in high school), he took some time to adjust. Around the mid-way point of the 2024 season, Harbor became much more comfortable operating at his new spot. So far as a junior, his route-running and hands have improved again. The South Carolina offense has struggled to get things going this fall, impacting his and every other Gamecock’s numbers.

Even so, Harbor is second on the team in catches and receiving yards and is one strange refereeing decision away from tying for the team lead in touchdowns. He is averaging 20 yards per grab, too, which is top 20 nationally among players with at least 10 receptions. His 64-yarder against Virginia Tech is the longest offensive play of South Carolina’s season.

Another look at the numbers shows that Harbor has just one catch in the Gamecocks’ two lopsided victories. In more competitive contests, he has 10 grabs for 210 yards and a score. Understandably, when USC has needed to throw the ball, he has been a bigger part of the action.

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This offseason, some outlets projected Harbor as a potential first or second round pick next spring based purely on potential. That potential is still there, and he is backing it up on the field. If he can generate a little more separation on non-go routes, Harbor could shoot even higher up draft boards.

It is worth noting, though, that the Gamecock standout has another year of eligibility. He could return in 2026 for his senior season. Junior defensive Jalon Kilgore and redshirt sophomore quarterback LaNorris Sellers are other names with eligibility remaining to watch for the 2026 NFL Draft.

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