Josh

Vann

Vann (5'11"/190) was the Gamecock’s leading receiver with 668 yards and six touchdowns this year while dealing with a carousel at QB. Vann started off hot, going over 100 yards in two of his first three games (including a game against Georgia) but didn’t top fifty again until Week 9 against Florida. Vann will be a fantastic target for new QB Spencer Rattler, and likewise Vann could really gain a lot with a consistent and talented QB.

Vann tweaked his groin against Troy last week but is good to go for the Vols. He’s posted a 16-332-3 receiving line through five games of what can already be constituted as a breakout year. Expect Vann to be targeted heavily on Saturday.

Doesn’t matter if it’s Zeb Noland or Luke Doty at quarterback, Vann (5'10") looks impressive. He eclipses the 100-yard in back-to-back, and to do it against Georgia looks great. Doty found him deep twice, including a 36-yard touchdown that Doty caught him in stride. His speed could be a great weapon for the Gamecocks when they need to go for a big shot. South Carolina will next Kentucky next Saturday.

Entering Saturday’s matchup against ECU, wide receiver Josh Vann had never gone for more than 171 yards in a single season, and had never gone for more than 33 yards in a game. As it stands right now, he’s currently on pace for 858 receiving yards after going a career high 116 receiving yards against the Pirates in the Gamecocks’ 20-17 win. Vann hauled in passes of 26 and 45 yards on the day and is averaging 20.4 yards per reception on the season.

Vann (5'10/185) will not be available for South Carolina’s final three games of the regular season, beginning with the November 9 matchup against Appalachian State. There is a chance that the sophomore wide receiver would be able to play in a bowl game, but South Carolina needs to win two of its final three games in order to become bowl eligible. Vann caught 19 passes for 171 yards this season, and the Gamecocks will be down another wide receiver as Shi Smith sat out Saturday’s win with a hamstring injury.

Vann (5'10/185) posted one reception for 17 yards with one rush for five yards before departing with the injury. The Gamecocks wide receiver corps is dropping like flies, as they were already without Shi Smith (hamstring) for this one. Next up the Gamecocks step out of conference to face Appalachian State.

With Deebo Samuel off to the NFL after graduating, there’s going to be room in the South Carolina offense for targets. Bryan Edwards is going to be the top option in the passing game, but Vann (5'10/185) could compete with Shi Smith to be that No.2 option. A four-star recruit who “wowed” in practices last year as well, Vann certainly has the talent to do so. If you’re looking for a sleeper in the SEC -- or just at the wideout position -- here’s one for ya.

Vann (5'10/185) has been rotating outside during his freshman season, but there will be more snaps and targets to go around with wide receiver Deebo Samuel skipping the game to focus on the 2019 NFL Draft. Vann won’t be the starting outside receiver with Shi Smith sliding outside, but Vann is expected to see more than his typical 2-3 targets per game. If you are playing DFS this Saturday, read Hayden Winks’ breakdown (linked below) with a deeper dive on South Carolina’s offense.

South Carolina had held an edge, but that was before Vann visited Georgia over the weekend. The 5-foot-10, 177-pounder will be taking a trip to check out the Gamecocks this coming weekend before he shuts down his schedule to prepare for his senior season. Rivals ranks him as the No. 238 overall prospect for the 2018 cycle. Vann was a surprise performer at The Opening earlier this summer, with Scout.com’s Greg Powers passing along that “nobody hauled in more passes during 7-on-7 play.”

Despite something of a reputation as a more-quick-than-fast prospect, Powers notes that Van “outran fellow four-stars who even had the angle on him at times and of course showed reliability with his hands inside and out.” Scout.com ranks the 5-foot-10, 177-pounder as the No. 246 overall prospect for the 2018 cycle. South Carolina and Georgia are both big-time contenders for his pledge, with the Gamecocks holding a natural in-state advantage.