Coming into the 2025 season, South Carolina’s wide receiver corps was expected to showcase a mix of veteran leadership and rising young talent. Senior Jared Brown and junior Nyck Harbor were seen as the faces of the group, while six promising freshmen and second-year receiver Mazeo Bennett added a sense of excitement about the future.
But lost somewhere in between — and perhaps overlooked — was redshirt sophomore Vandrevius “Dre” Jacobs. Five games into the season, though, Jacobs has made sure everyone knows his name.
Jacobs currently leads the Gamecocks in both receptions (18) and receiving yards (323), ranking ninth overall in the SEC. He’s also posted back-to-back 100-yard games, becoming the first South Carolina player to achieve that feat since Xavier Legette in 2023.
What makes Jacobs’ rise even more impressive is how quietly it began. He didn’t receive a single target in the season opener against Virginia Tech, yet since then, he’s caught 18 of his 19 total targets — a near-perfect rate of efficiency.
Jacobs’ road to becoming a go-to option wasn’t smooth. After a brief stint at Florida State, where he caught just three passes in 2023 before transferring, Jacobs battled injuries in his first year with South Carolina, managing only 12 catches for 181 yards. His production was inconsistent last season, averaging less than 20 yards per game after a strong opener.
This preseason, most of the buzz surrounded Harbor’s development and the incoming freshman class, leaving Jacobs off many early depth charts. But that changed in a hurry.
Against South Carolina State, Jacobs made a statement with three receptions on a single drive, capped off by a 35-yard touchdown grab. His breakout truly came when he entered the starting lineup, delivering standout performances versus Missouri and Kentucky, totaling 12 catches for 236 yards and three plays over 40 yards.
Jacobs’ versatility has been key. Whether hauling in deep passes from LaNorris Sellers, turning short routes into chunk gains, or making athletic, contested catches, he’s proven to be a complete receiver. His 50-yard burst of yards-after-catch against Kentucky showcased that explosiveness.
Even South Carolina football color commentator Tommy Suggs couldn’t help but praise his impact during the Kentucky game:
“I think [the Gamecocks] have found a player.”
According to Pro Football Focus, Jacobs holds the second-highest offensive grade on the team, trailing only Sellers. His growing chemistry with the Gamecocks’ quarterback has turned him into one of the most dependable offensive weapons on the roster.
As South Carolina enters a brutal stretch featuring five straight matchups against top-13 teams, head coach Shane Beamer will be counting heavily on Jacobs to keep producing.
The Gamecocks had their first bye week this past Saturday, but they’ll return to action next weekend with a prime-time showdown at LSU, where Jacobs will look to extend his breakout run and cement his status as one of the SEC’s rising stars.
