South Carolina wide receiver Shi Smith didn’t get the luxury of easing into the college game as a true freshman.
His teammate and classmate OrTre Smith did to a degree, but after Deebo Samuel got hurt three games into the 2017 football season, he found himself thrust into the starting lineup as well.
The thrown-into-the-deep-end experience then might be one of their biggest assets now, at least in the eyes of offensive coordinator/wide receivers coach Bryan McClendon.
“They know what it’s going to take to be successful on Saturdays now,” McClendon said. “It’s not assumed.