Brian Rowe Jr. Emerging as South Carolina’s Freshman Wideout to Watch
South Carolina’s wide receiver room has generated plenty of preseason excitement — and for good reason. With a mix of proven returners, experienced transfers, and an eye-catching freshman class, the Gamecocks look poised for a leap in production this fall.
Two of last year’s top pass catchers, Nyck Harbor and Mazeo Bennett, are back, along with transfer receivers Jared Brown and Vandrevius Jacobs. Add in six highly-touted freshmen recruited by wide receivers coach Mike Furrey, and the position group looks deeper than ever.
Among the newcomers, one has stood out more than the rest: Brian Rowe Jr.
The 6-foot, 170-pound product of Concord, North Carolina, wasted no time making an impression after enrolling early in December. In the spring game, Rowe broke out with five catches for a team-high 45 yards — a preview of what could be ahead.
Defensive back Vicari Swain knows firsthand how tough Rowe is to guard.
“He’s a smooth guy. Routes are very smooth,” Swain said. “He’s kind of hard to guard since he’s a little bit smaller. But in space, he’s unstoppable.”
Rowe has already flashed his ability in live action, but he’s also endured learning moments. In South Carolina’s second fall scrimmage, a misstep on a route led to Gerald Kilgore’s highlight-reel interception. Still, Kilgore came away impressed with the young wideout.
“B Rowe is crazy athletic. Any ball that’s in the air, anything that needs to be going to get, you may not think that you’re gonna get, he’s definitely gonna grab that,” Kilgore said. “A lot of people look at his size… but he plays aggressively. Surprisingly, he can go in there and block — he can.”
Kilgore also praised Rowe’s toughness, noting his fearlessness in contested situations.
“He’s not scared to run across the middle and make a tough catch,” Kilgore added. “So he’s definitely added that to that receiver room for sure.”
Rowe’s résumé backs up the hype. At Jay M. Robinson High School, he finished with 120 catches, 2,332 yards, and 31 touchdowns across three seasons, including 935 yards and 11 scores as a senior.
Now, with the season opener just a week away, Rowe could earn early playing time alongside the veteran receivers. Quarterback LaNorris Sellers sees plenty of potential in his new target.
“He can make people miss. He’s got good burst,” Sellers said. “It’s kind of like if you were a step behind him, he can just hit another gear and run.”
For the Gamecocks, Rowe represents more than just another freshman addition — he’s already proving he has the tools to make an impact in year one.
