South Carolina is shaking things up in the running back room for 2026, welcoming Stan Drayton as the new voice at the helm. Drayton, fresh from a stint at Penn State, has already made strides as the associate head coach. His focus during spring practice has been clear: progress and development.
The Gamecocks boast a mix of returning talent and fresh faces. Veterans Matt Fuller, Jawarn Howell, and Isaiah Augustave are back, joined by transfers Christian Clark, Jabree Coleman, and Sam Dixon. Drayton is optimistic, noting that the group is "trending in the right direction" as spring practice heats up.
"We're in the developmental phase, working on execution," Drayton shared in a recent press conference. "The guys are really intentional about improving weaknesses.
We're building confidence and speed, but every day brings a new challenge, like installing new offensive pieces. It's a journey, but we're moving forward."
While Drayton isn't ready to finalize a depth chart, he's pleased with the unit's progress. "Some guys are consistently doing things right, but everyone has habits to break.
We're aiming for complete execution from all of them. We're close, but not there yet."
Drayton is clear about what he's looking for in his running backs. "Intentionality and consistency are key.
Perfection isn't the goal; it's about embracing competition and minimizing mistakes. I'm seeing progress in all of them.
We just need more consistent execution under pressure."
Let's dive into Drayton's insights on four of the Gamecocks' running backs:
Matt Fuller
Fuller is showing decisiveness and physicality, playing well in short-yardage situations. While he needs to improve his run fits, he's learning to anticipate and become an explosive runner.
Christian Clark
Clark is decisive and powerful when he fits runs correctly. However, he needs to avoid lateral cuts in the backfield that lead to losses. Correcting this will help him keep the team on schedule.
Jawarn Howell
Howell has made significant strides, showing a strong ability to fit runs and minimize mistakes. His vision is improving, and he's steadily climbing the depth chart.
Isaiah Augustave
Augustave's awareness has grown, boosting his confidence and decision-making. By understanding defenses better, he's playing faster and more decisively. The focus now is on lowering his pad level to enhance strength and contact play.
Drayton's approach is clear: build a cohesive, confident unit ready to take on the challenges of the upcoming season. The Gamecocks' running back room is on the rise, and fans should be excited about what's to come.