Nyck Harbor Shifts Focus to Football, Temporarily Steps Away from Track
It appears South Carolina star Nyck Harbor is putting his track career on hold to focus entirely on football.
Harbor, a standout wide receiver for the Gamecocks, made national headlines last year not only for his football skills but for his jaw-dropping performances on the track. The 6-foot-5, 235-pound athlete clocked the 100m in just over 10 seconds and dominated the 200m so thoroughly that he qualified for the Olympic Trials.
But, for now, track seems to be on the back burner. South Carolina head coach Shane Beamer revealed on Saturday that Harbor will not participate in the current indoor track season. As for the outdoor season, Beamer admitted uncertainty, noting a likely conflict with spring football practice, which kicks off on March 19, while the outdoor track season begins just two days later on March 21.
“Right now, he’s wanting to focus on spring practice and football and developing there,” Beamer shared. “That’s kind of where we are right now.”
Harbor joined South Carolina as a heralded five-star recruit, but his transition to college football wasn’t seamless. As a true freshman, he tallied just 12 receptions for 196 yards and one touchdown. However, his performance drastically improved during the second half of the 2024 season. Over the final seven games, including the Citrus Bowl against Illinois, Harbor hauled in 19 catches for 325 yards and three touchdowns, becoming one of quarterback LaNorris Sellers’ most reliable targets.
Beamer acknowledged that Harbor’s late-season surge contributed to his decision to prioritize football.
“Certainly, he played really well and made some big plays and got better as the year went on,” Beamer said. “I think he realizes he has a big upside, big future in football if he can continue to progress.
“But he also understands there’s a small window of time before your college career is over,” Beamer added. “He wants to capitalize on that.”
For now, it’s clear Harbor is fully committed to his development on the gridiron, leaving fans to wonder just how high his ceiling might be.
