South Carolina brought in six scholarship wide receivers in 2025. True sophomore Mazeo Bennett Jr. feels it's his responsibility to lead them.
South Carolina brought in six scholarship freshmen wide receivers in its 2025 recruiting class. For many, they will soon have to make the quick transition to playing in their first games at the Division I level as true freshmen.
But, luckily for them, the Gamecocks’ roster features a wideout who just went through that process a season ago.
Sophomore Mazeo Bennett Jr. played in all 13 games during his true freshman season at South Carolina. Bennett caught 30 receptions for 337 yards and three touchdowns.
Bennett’s experience from his true freshman season makes him feel like it’s his job to guide South Carolina’s group of freshmen through the 2025 season.
“I feel like it’s my job, because I feel like I was just in their shoes last year,” Bennett said. “Just let them know, like, how the game goes, and how to run this route against this, how to see this coverage when you’re out there running this type of route.”
Bennett’s role during his freshman season also led him to rank second among returning South Carolina wide receivers in receiving yards.
It didn’t take Bennett long to score his first career touchdown in conference play. Bennett opened the scoring for the Gamecocks against Kentucky with a 24-yard reception for six from LaNorris Sellers. Bennett led the Gamecocks in receiving yards that afternoon en route to a 31-6 victory.
As one of the leaders of the group, it makes him hold himself more accountable, knowing the freshmen are looking at him for guidance.
“I gotta make sure when I go out there, I do it right, so they have a good example to follow up after those guys listen to me,” Bennett said. “They want to know. They want to gain the knowledge that we have as older guys in the room.”
South Carolina’s eager crop of freshmen wide receivers also pushes the room to be better every day.
“I mean, those young guys, they’re eager to learn more,” Bennett said. “You know, I’m saying they don’t think that they got it. They need to learn. They need to work every day.”
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Category: General Sports
