Offensively, South Carolina has seen three true freshman play multiple snaps in the first two games of the season and will continue to play key roles in their first season in the garnet black.
Wide receiver Mazeo Bennett led the team in receiving on Saturday which including scoring his first touchdown in his first SEC game while tight end Michael Smithhas also made an impact in the first two games of his collegiate career. Those two aren't the only true freshmen on offense to take the field asJosiah Thompson has also started the first two games at left tackle.
In a press conference on Wednesday afternoon, offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains detailed with the way that Bennett and Smith have performed in key moments so far, it will only help their confidence moving forward.
"When things happen to young players like that, it builds confidence," Loggains said. "When their confidence starts to grow, you start to see their personality, and you start to see them perform better because confidence comes from demonstrated ability."
As for Bennett, he leads the team in receiving through the first two games of the season with five receptions for 81 yards and a touchdown. In the win over the Wildcats, Bennett tallied a team high 63 yards receiving and one touchdown on three receptions.
"For Mazeo, it's not too big for him," Loggains said. "He has the mindset, and he gets it from his mom and dad and if you met them, they are wonderful people. Same thing with Michael Smith. We are fortunate to have those type kids in our program that the moment is not too big when they are freshman.
"Without those two plays, I don't know what that game looks like. He was able to do his job and get open and score a touchdown which how cool is that? Your first SEC start on the road and you are 10-point underdogs, and you score the first touchdown. … You have to go out on the field and do it and that is what Mazeo did. Super proud of him. Doesn't surprise me at all because of the way he is made and his mindset."
Through his first two games at South Carolina, Smith has been on the receiving end of five passes for 48 yards as he played 29 snaps against Old Dominion and 22 against Kentucky.
Loggains has been impressed with what he has seen from the 6-foot-6, 255-pound freshman tight end and just like with Bennett, feels the moment has not been too big for him so far.
"He has handled it well," Loggains said. "He's a kid that I recruited at Arkansas really hard, so I got to know him very well. The moment hasn't been too big for him. There are obviously things that he has to clean up. You can prepare these guys for a lot of different things, but you can't prepare them for everything that happens on the field. There is not enough time. There is not enough reps. There is a 20-hour rule. For him to go out there and be able to handle the volume he has handled playing really three different positions because when we are in 13 personnel, he plays a different position than when we are in 11 and then 12. He has roles in three different things on top of being the slash starter in 12, slash back up in 11 personnel at tight end."
Loggains is looking forward to seeing how Smith continues to grow this season as he figures to continue playing a key role for the Gameco*cks.
"Been really pleased with him," Loggains said. "He is going to be a really good football player. He is a great addition to this roster not only as a football player but as a kid, too. He does things the right way. He is a quite, humble worker. I am sure the personality is going to come out more as he is here. I am excited about coaching him and excited he is here."
South Carolina will welcome LSU to Williams-Brice on Saturday for its home SEC opener. Kickoff is set for 12 p.m. and will be televised on ABC with Chris Fowler, Kirk Herbstreit and Holly Rowe on the call.
