South Carolina’s preseason camp opens Friday, and the offense brings plenty of names worth tracking as Kendal Briles takes over the unit.
The Gamecocks are getting back key pieces from last season, starting with quarterback LaNorris Sellers and wide receiver Nyck Harbor, who led the team in receiving last year. But there’s also a real chance for new contributors to emerge in 2026, whether that comes from younger players, transfer additions or incoming high school signees. The offensive line is expected to draw plenty of attention, and the running back and wide receiver groups each have players pushing to make a move.
Here are five offensive players to watch once camp begins.
DJ Black is already a name that stands out because of how he fits Briles’ system. His speed made him a natural fit for this kind of offense, and Sellers only added to the buzz when he brought Black up as a player to know for 2026.
"He's put his head down and he's working hard," Sellers said.
"Speed, size, experience. He's been in college for a while now," Sellers added.
"We had a little bit of chemistry. I don't know if you remember, the spring game clip my freshman year, I threw he pass to him.
And he was my locker mate as well. I know him.
I know what he's about."
Black arrived after catching 22 passes for 273 yards and two touchdowns last season at UCF, and he was named the co-newcomer of the spring offensively. He also comes into Columbia already familiar with Mike Furrey’s standards after the two crossed paths at Limestone. The wide receiver competition is going to be intense, but Black is firmly in the mix as he tries to build toward 2026.
Darius Gray is another player who will be under the microscope in camp, mostly because he didn’t get to campus until the summer. That makes preseason work especially important for the five-star offensive lineman as he tries to push toward a starting spot.
Gray’s versatility could determine where he lines up first, and Randy Clements said the staff wants to find the fastest way to get him on the field.
"He's a young guy who we haven't seen take a live rep yet," Clements said at Birdies with Beamer. "He's very position flexible, so we're just going to look for the quickest avenue to get him to the field, whether it's long term or what. We definitely want to see him contribute."
Gray has some ground to make up since the rest of the offensive line went through spring practice, but it wouldn’t be a surprise if he works himself into a starting conversation as a true freshman.
Jayden Gibson gives South Carolina another receiver worth watching, and his arrival adds size to the room. The former Oklahoma pass catcher has dealt with injuries over the last two seasons and hasn’t played since the 2023 Alamo Bowl on Dec.
28, 2023. Before that, he put together a solid 2023 season with 14 catches for 375 yards and five touchdowns.
Gibson was in Columbia during spring practice, but he was still finishing classes from Oklahoma and didn’t take part. Camp will be the first real look at him in a Gamecocks uniform, and his frame could make him a useful downfield and jump-ball option this fall.
"He's got a huge catch-radius, a lot of confidence," wide receivers coach Mike Furrey said at Birdies with Beamer. "He's been really successful playing at this level.
… It's a great addition into that room, a competitive room providing a big target for LaNorris (Sellers). You put him and Nyck next to each other, they walk around and it's like jiminy-Christmas, these two dudes are monsters."
At running back, Christian Clark is worth keeping close tabs on even with Matt Fuller drawing spring praise and earning Offensive Player of the Spring honors. Clark missed his freshman year because of an Achilles injury, then came back to rush for 236 yards and two touchdowns last season in a crowded Texas backfield. He finished his Longhorns career with a 105-yard showing against Michigan in the Citrus Bowl.
Drayton had plenty to say about what he saw on that film.
"Christian Clark is a guy, you look at his bowl game and yeah, 100 yards against a very good Michigan defense," Drayton said on 107.5 The Game at Birdies with Beamer. "But even looking at that film, there were some things with Christian Clark - he probably left another 50 yards on the field, with hesitation, missed reads and things of that sort.
We talked about that. As a matter of fact, in the recruiting process, we pulled that film and there's a couple of plays where I said, 'What are you thinking here?'
"I think those things are where he was hesitating, not quite seeing it clean enough, those are things that he's fixed. I think the game has slowed down for him as well.
He's imposing himself at the line of scrimmage with good timing now. Need to get to the fall, to see how he's going to anticipate contact."
Drayton also said he wants to see what Clark does after contact, and the practices and scrimmages before the Sept. 5 opener should help answer that.
Mike Tyler is another spring riser who earned attention after being named the most improved player of the spring on offense. The sophomore tight end caught his only pass last season for 13 yards against Coastal Carolina, but his progress has created some intrigue heading into camp.
The question now is whether Tyler can turn that momentum into a bigger role in the passing game under Briles. With the tight ends’ usage still a storyline, he has a chance to carve out a place for himself in Shawn Elliott’s room.
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