South Carolina’s Running Back Room Hits Reset: Why the Gamecocks Are Eyeing the Transfer Portal
If you’re wondering why South Carolina made a change at running backs coach after just two seasons, head coach Shane Beamer didn’t dance around the answer.
“It is what it is and it’s unfortunate,” Beamer said in a candid radio appearance this week. “But we have not signed a high school running back in two years. That just - that cannot happen.”
That recruiting drought is at the heart of the decision to part ways with Marquel Blackwell and bring in veteran coach Stan Drayton. But the move also underscores the urgency facing the Gamecocks as they head into a critical offseason with a depleted backfield and a transfer portal window opening on January 2.
A Thin RB Room Heading into 2026
With Oscar Adaway III, Rahsul Faison, and Bradley Dunn all out of eligibility, South Carolina’s scholarship running back depth has been whittled down to just three players: Isaiah Augustave, Jawarn Howell, and Matthew Fuller. That’s it.
For a program that wants to compete in the SEC, that’s not just thin - it’s risky. Beamer made it clear he wants five scholarship backs on the roster “at all times.” Right now, they’re two short, and that means reinforcements are coming via the portal.
“We need to go out and find some guys to increase the competition and add to the depth in that room,” Beamer said.
But here’s where things get interesting: the Gamecocks aren’t necessarily hunting for a high-priced, headline-grabbing transfer. Last offseason, they landed Rocket Sanders, one of the top backs in the portal. This time around, Beamer’s tone suggests a more measured approach.
“I don’t think we need to go out and just bring in some dynamic starter,” he said. “Would that be nice if you want to become relatively cheap?
Yeah. But do we need to go out and spend a ton of money to go get a dude at running back, necessarily?
I don’t feel that way because we have some ‘dudes’ already in that room.”
Belief in the Young Core
That vote of confidence speaks volumes about how the staff views Augustave, Howell, and especially Fuller heading into 2026.
Fuller, a redshirt sophomore and the last high school back signed by South Carolina (Class of 2024), was the most productive of the trio last season, logging 72 carries for 260 yards. He’s shown flashes, and while he hasn’t fully broken out yet, the potential is there.
Augustave, a soon-to-be redshirt junior who transferred from Colorado, saw limited action with just two carries last season, but he’s a player who’s led a team in rushing before. Howell, a redshirt junior from South Carolina State, also has experience as a lead back and carried the ball 14 times for 80 yards in 2025.
None of the three have proven they can be a consistent No. 1 option in the SEC just yet - and that’s the crux of the challenge. The Gamecocks don’t just need bodies in the room; they need players who can push the current group and raise the overall ceiling.
What Comes Next
With the portal set to open, South Carolina’s strategy appears clear: bring in a couple of backs who can compete right away, but don’t necessarily need to be the guy from Day 1. This isn’t about replacing the room - it’s about fortifying it.
That said, the margin for error is slim. The SEC doesn’t wait for young backs to develop, and South Carolina’s offense will need production in the run game to stay balanced in 2026.
Beamer’s comments suggest the staff believes the foundation is already in place - now it’s about building around it. Whether that means adding experienced depth, finding a late-blooming star, or uncovering a hidden gem in the portal, the Gamecocks are on the clock.
And this time, they can’t afford to miss.