The South Carolina Gamecocks saw a major boost in their offense last season thanks to what they had been lacking in previous years—a reliable lead running back. In his lone season with the team, Rocket Sanders made a significant impact, rushing for nearly 900 yards and scoring 11 touchdowns. However, with Sanders now heading to the NFL Draft, South Carolina finds itself searching for a new leader in the backfield as they prepare for the 2025 season.
Fortunately, the Gamecocks have several promising options. One of the top candidates is Oscar Adaway III, who is returning for his seventh year of college football. Adaway played as Sanders’ backup last season but showed his potential in the Citrus Bowl, where he took on the lead role and recorded 106 all-purpose yards along with a touchdown. Now, he’s looking to take over as the team’s primary running back.
Sanders himself believes South Carolina will be in good hands. “I’d definitely say they’re going to have a great year,” he said. “And I mean, definitely with Oscar in there, ’cause you know, he’s an older guy. I feel like he’s got knowledge ’cause he taught me some things as well that I taught him as well. I feel the guys are going to be great.”
Beyond Adaway, the Gamecocks also return Jawarn Howell and Matthew Fuller, who redshirted last season but impressed in winter workouts. Head coach Shane Beamer acknowledged their progress and emphasized the importance of depth at the position. “You need more than one, you need more than two, you need more than three, just because of the wear and tear that position has,” Beamer stated.
To further strengthen the running back unit, South Carolina also dipped into the transfer portal and added another rusher who could complement the group—and potentially even outperform Sanders’ 2024 campaign. With several talented backs in the mix, the Gamecocks hope to maintain a strong ground game heading into the new season.
