Todd McShay Raves About Nyck Harbor, Compares Gamecocks Star to DK Metcalf
South Carolina wide receiver Nyck Harbor is turning heads — and now he’s drawing comparisons to one of the NFL’s most physically dominant wideouts.
NFL Draft expert Todd McShay recently heaped high praise on the Gamecocks sophomore, likening him to Seattle Seahawks star DK Metcalf. On The McShay Show, the longtime analyst highlighted Harbor’s extraordinary combination of size and speed, calling him a “physical phenom.”
“The obvious comp is DK,” McShay said. “With that frame and that speed, you don’t have to be an overly refined route-runner… Remember AJ Brown and DK Metcalf. They were running nine routes… and it worked.”
McShay pointed out that early doubts surrounded both Brown and Metcalf ahead of the NFL Draft — mostly about their route running — but those concerns were quickly erased by their elite athletic traits.
“Part of the knock on those guys was like, ‘Can they get in and out of breaks?’ Maybe it’s not the most important thing in the world when you got those traits,” McShay continued. “He’s different… You see him on tape, he takes off, and it’s like, ‘Whoa. What is going on? How is that giraffe faster and more agile than all these other guys who are 5’11, six-foot?’”
At 6-foot-5 and 235 pounds, Harbor possesses the kind of athleticism that defies logic. A former dual-sport standout, he ran a blistering 10.11 in the 100m and a 20.20 in the 200m during the 2024 track season — times that earned him Second-Team All-America honors. He even placed fifth in the 200m at the SEC indoor championships with a time of 20.87.
But now, Harbor is all in on football.
After stepping away from track to fully commit to the gridiron, he’s poised to elevate his game. As a freshman, he recorded 26 receptions for 376 yards and three touchdowns. While solid, his stats left plenty of room for growth — growth that could skyrocket in 2025.
For context, Metcalf’s final season at Ole Miss featured 26 catches for 569 yards and five scores.
McShay sees clear upside in Harbor, though he noted the sophomore is still developing, especially when it comes to tracking the ball.
“What’s interesting for me with Nyck Harbor is his drop rate,” McShay said. “When you looked on PFF, it was good. He only had one drop. I saw so many times him fighting like trouble, adjusting, tracking the ball. So I don’t know what we’re calling a drop, but there was some awkward stuff on the tape. So this is a guy who’s learning on the fly.”
With LaNorris Sellers returning at quarterback — and already being named First-Team Preseason All-SEC — South Carolina’s offense is in a strong position. If Harbor can take the next step in his development, he may not only live up to the DK Metcalf comparison but also establish himself as one of the most electrifying receivers in the nation.
The tools are already there. Now, it’s just about turning potential into production.
