During the final 10 days until the start of South Carolina's season, Gamecock Central will use each day to take a look at 10 storylines that will most directly affect the success of Carolina's 2018 campaign.
With seven days until kickoff, we look at our No. 7 storyline - the emergence of freshman cornerback Jaycee Horn.
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Jaycee Horn wasn't the first freshman from the 2018 class to arrive on South Carolina's campus, but the summer enrollee may be the first to make a major impact.
The former four-star cornerback from Alpharetta (Ga.) has been the talk of camp from both coaches and his fellow teammates alike.
“Jaycee’s had a really good camp. He’s a guy that’s certainly going to be one of our best five (defensive backs),” head coach Will Muschamp said on the Jamie Bradford Show on Charleston Sports Radio. “You talk in terms of our nickel grouping going out there, he’s going to be on the field. He’s progressed well and he’s really mature.”
Horn, the son of former NFL wide receiver Joe Horn, started camp as a second-team cornerback, but has moved into the Gamecocks' starting lineup in their nickel grouping.
Horn's emergence has given the defensive staff the ability to move graduate transfer defensive back Nick Harvey to safety to help solidify that position after Harvey started camp as a first-team corner.
The latest info we've picked up points to Horn likely being the first-team nickelback with seniors Keisean Nixon and Rashad Fenton at cornerback.
Horn brings excellent size at 6-foot-1, 190-pounds, combined with athleticism and change of direction. But perhaps his best quality has been his competitive edge and fearlessness in matching up with top receivers like Deebo Samuel and Bryan Edwards.
"I think he’s going to be a real special player here," Edwards said. "He’s long, he’s rangy. He has great ball skills. He’s definitely making a name for himself out there."
