Fan favorite freshman locks in return to South Carolina

South Carolina freshman standout wide receiver Mazeo Bennett will be back in the Garnet and Black for 2025.

Bennett has signed a new NIL deal with Garnet Trust, the official South Carolina collective announced on Tuesday, signaling his return to Columbia, not that it was any surprise.

A former four-star prospect who flipped from Tennessee to play for the home-state Gamecocks, Bennett played in all 13 games this year and caught 30 passes for 337 yards and three touchdowns in his freshman season.

“He’s just getting started, like he’s going to have a chance to be a really good slot receiver in this conference for a long time. And a really good player for us for a long time,” former South Carolina offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains said in November. “He just needs to keep taking the process and taking the right steps to continue to get better and growing up fast.”

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The Greenville (S.C.) High standout was ranked the No. 50 wide receiver and No. 313 overall prospect in his class.

Retention has been a huge focus for the Gamecocks this offseason.

Garnet Trust announced on Christmas Eve that it signed a new deal with SEC Freshman of the Year quarterback LaNorris Sellers after previously inking an agreement with Dylan Stewart, the On3 National Freshman of the Year.

“Kudos to our fanbase, kudos to our administration, kudos to the Garnet Trust for all they’ve done to be able to help us and our guys out in so many ways,” Beamer said of South Carolina’s efforts in player retention last year. “This program is about relationships, honesty, and trust and having conversations with guys, and building relationships throughout the season. Guys have expressed to us that they want to be (here).”

“I think retaining our current roster is the most important thing,” added Darren Uscher, South Carolina football’s Director of Player Personnel and Recruiting, during a recent appearance on GC Live.