Bluffton native Shameik Blackshear came with high expectations when he signed with South Carolina, joining the 2015 class as a four-star recruit. However, his first season in Columbia didn't go as planned.
After a knee injury cost him half of his senior season of high school, Blackshear was still hindered by knee problems in 2015, playing in just two games and receiving a medical redshirt. The season itself was fairly uneventful.
The offseason, however, was not. In mid-December, the 6-foot-4, 265-pounder was shot in the leg and the chest outside an off-campus apartment complex. Blackshear wasn't released from the hospital until early January, and he wasn't able to take part in practice until the team opened camp in the fall.
While Blackshear was simply the victim in this incident, he's had a bit of a troubled past. The high-school standout was arrested in February 2015 and charged with petit larceny after stealing a purse and a safe from someone's house. He has since been charged with possession of marijuana. He sparked more off-field controversy with last season as he grew frustrated with his lack of playing time, tweeting "Should [have] looked around like my parents said.”
Will Muschamp has taken an interest in his recovering star, and Blackshear told 247 Sports he's been "impressed" with the Gamecocks' new head coach.
With all the issues in his past, this could be a make-or-break year for the redshirt freshman. Blackshear is currently listed as the second-team defensive end along with true freshman D.J. Wonnum. There's no denying Blackshear's talent, but his health is certainly a concern.
His discipline, however, may no longer be a concern.
“It’s not something that happens overnight. It takes a little time, but in the meantime I’m just going to keep my (nose) clean, do the right thing, be respectful and just be thankful that I’m still living,” Blackshear told SEC Country in August.
While Blackshear said in the same interview his goal is to become the same player that made him an elite recruit in high school, he should also be a different person, as he's gained perspective since the off-season incident.
Now, Blackshear needs to evolve into a role as just another contributor on the new-look South Carolina defense. With his immense talent, the defensive end has the opportunity to play a major part in rejuvenating the weak Gamecock pass rush.