Like most SEC programs, the South Carolina Gamecocks have a rich tradition of elite running backs. From 1980 Heisman winner George Rogers, all the way up to Marcus Lattimore and Mike Davis in the early 2010s. Running the rock is as engrained in South Carolina football as the colors Garnet and Black. That being said, it’s been a while since we can say we’ve seen a truly dominant rushing attack in Columbia. We haven’t seen a single Gamecock eclipse the 1,000-yard mark on the ground since the 2020 season.
Needless to say, consistency running the ball is something Shane Beamer has been looking for since he took the helm in 2021. While it’s unlikely any Heisman winners are in the Carolina backfield this season, there may just be the star Beamer has been searching for. In this South Carolina position preview, we’re taking a look at the running backs room to see who the next premier ball carrier could be for the Gamecocks.
Who’s Being Replaced
The biggest loss to the Carolina backfield from last season was Mario Anderson. Anderson was the Gamecocks’ leading rusher in 2023, racking up 707 yards on the ground. The former Division Two all-American was expected to return for his final season but elected instead to transfer to Memphis. Filling this hole is the biggest priority for the Gamecocks ahead of the season.
While Anderson led the Gamecocks in rushing yards last season, the team leader in rushing touchdowns was Dakereon Joyner. The sixth-year senior punched in five touchdowns compared to Anderson’s three. Joyner was also Carolina’s go-to goal line back, with all five of his scores coming within the five-yard line.
Unlike Anderson, Joyner departed Carolina at the end of last season due to his eligibility running out. While he unfortunately didn’t hear his name called in the NFL draft, his nose for the endzone was enough to earn him and UDFA deal with the Seattle Seahawks.
While there is nothing a coach can do about eligibility running out, losing yet another promising position player to the portal stings a bit. Much like Jaheim Bell last year, Anderson was in prime position to take that next step for Carolina’s offense. Now Beamer will have to find somebody else to fill that void. Fortunately, the fourth-year head coach looks to have just the right guy for the job.
Next Gamecocks Star?
The biggest transfer portal addition of the year for Carolina has been Raheim Sanders. After spending the past three seasons with SEC foe Arkansas, Sanders is primed to become the premier tailback in Columbia this fall. While he was sidelined for most of last season with injury, his 2022 campaign is what has Gamecock Nation so enticed.
As a true sophomore, Sanders finished second in the SEC in rushing with 1,443 yards, and first in yards per carry with six-and-a-half. Along with earning him first-team all-SEC honors, his 2022 campaign was the sole bright spot in an otherwise bleak Razorbacks season. If Sanders is able to return to form, Carolina will have found the star running back they’ve been missing for so long.
Rest of the Room
Carolina also picked up two more backs from the portal in Oscar Adaway and Jawarn Howell. Adaway comes in as a grad transfer via North Texas where he spent the last five seasons. In his time for the Mean Green the veteran tailback put up 2,061 total yards and 15 touchdowns. Adaway is a do-it-all running back who can run the ball, catch out of the backfield, and pass block. This versatility gives the Gamecocks more flexibility in the ground game, along with a serious change of pace threat.
Howell on the other hand is a dynamic playmaker who comes to the Gamecocks via South Carolina State. As a freshman in 2023, he put up 809 yards and seven touchdowns in only nine games. This earned him FCS freshman All-American and all-MEAC first-team honors. Howell possesses all the necessary traits to become a dominant back in the SEC. His lethal combination of strength and speed makes him a homerun threat every time he takes a handoff. This alone will make it hard to keep him off the field.
Rounding out the back end of a very deep Carolina stable is sophomore Djay Braswell. The second-year back is the only notable holdover from last season, in which he saw very limited action. A highly coveted recruit, he committed to the Gamecocks in 2023 over programs like Oregon, Alabama, and Nebraska. Braswell’s defining trait is his breakaway speed, which comes as a byproduct of his championship-winning track pedigree. It will be interesting to see how the sophomore navigates a crowded running back rotation for the Gamecocks this fall, but his speed alone makes him a serious threat with the ball in his hands.
Final Rundown
The running back position is arguably the deepest the Gamecocks possess on the offensive side of the ball. Beamer has done a phenomenal job adding true impact players via the portal, none being bigger than Sanders. If the former Razorback can regain his all-SEC form then the ground game is sure to make massive strides this season. Coupled with Adaway and Braswell, the Gamecocks could have one of the best rushing attacks in the conference. With so many questions in the passing game, the return of a dominant Carolina ground attack could very well be upon us this season.
