Three South Carolina Standouts Make CFN’s Top 100 Returning Players List
COLUMBIA, S.C. — As spring practice approaches, College Football Network’s Oliver Hodgkinson has unveiled his rankings of the top 100 returning players in college football, and three South Carolina stars have earned a spot on the list. Among them, two rising sophomores have cracked the top 11, solidifying their status as some of the nation’s brightest young talents.
According to CFN’s rankings, junior wide receiver Nyck Harbor lands at No. 88, redshirt sophomore quarterback LaNorris Sellers is ranked 11th, and sophomore EDGE Dylan Stewart earns an impressive No. 2 overall spot.
Hodgkinson’s inclusion of Harbor is based on his expectation that the explosive receiver will take another leap this season. Noting Harbor’s incredible athletic profile, he believes new offensive coordinator Mike Shula could maximize the 6’5” playmaker’s potential in 2025. Harbor nearly doubled his production from his freshman to sophomore campaign and finished last season playing his best football. With his decision to skip indoor track this winter to focus solely on football, Harbor is expected to be a major weapon in the Gamecocks’ offense.
Meanwhile, Sellers, ranked No. 11, also ended the 2024 season on a high note. In fact, Hodgkinson describes him as “one of the most exciting players at any position that you’ll see in college football this season.” He believes that if Sellers reaches his full potential, South Carolina will benefit from both team success and individual accolades. Sellers made history last year by becoming the first South Carolina quarterback to earn All-SEC honors from league coaches. The Gamecocks narrowly missed the College Football Playoff, and another step forward could push them over the edge.
At No. 2 overall, Stewart trails only Ohio State’s Jeremiah Smith in CFN’s rankings. Coming off a dominant freshman campaign, where he earned multiple Freshman of the Year and Defensive Freshman of the Year honors, Hodgkinson praises Stewart’s impact as one of the most disruptive edge rushers in recent history. Though his statistical output didn’t fully reflect his impact, Stewart could take another massive leap in 2025. With South Carolina potentially losing a historic number of defensive players to the NFL Draft, Stewart will be relied upon to lead the Gamecocks’ defense.
Former South Carolina players Corey Rucker (WR, Arkansas State) and O’Mega Blake (WR, Arkansas) also made the list at No. 91 and No. 43, respectively.
Looking ahead, the Gamecocks will face 21 players from CFN’s top 100 list in 2025. Despite that challenge, only one opponent—rival Clemson—boasts more players on the list, with five Tigers making the cut. Alabama, LSU, and surprisingly Vanderbilt each matched South Carolina’s three selections, while Ole Miss, Missouri, and Texas A&M placed two. Oklahoma landed one player in the rankings.
With Sellers, Harbor, and Stewart leading the way, South Carolina is primed for another big season as they look to build on last year’s success.
