South Carolina had already picked up some preseason buzz when it made ESPN writer Mark Schlabach’s Way-Too-Early Top 25.
And that ended up meaning a chance to highlight one Gamecocks newcomer.
ESPN pegged freshman Gamecocks cornerback Jaycee Horn as USC’s “Instant-impact freshman.” The site named one for each of the teams on Schlabach’s list.
“With three starting seniors gone from the secondary, there's plenty of room for freshman defensive backs to play quickly -- something that's a common occurrence under Will Muschamp,” Sam Khan Jr. wrote. “Horn, the 18th-ranked cornerback in the nation, figures to be in the mix to get on the field early.