South Carolina’s backfield is getting a reset in 2026, and the Gamecocks need it. After a season in which the running backs produced only 956 rushing yards and seven touchdowns, USC is turning to a new coach, a new mix of talent, and a clearer plan to lighten the load on quarterback LaNorris Sellers.
The biggest name in that rebuild is Stan Drayton, the new position coach charged with getting the ground game moving again. USC’s offense never found much punch on the ground in 2025, and that left Sellers exposed. His rushing total fell from nearly 700 yards in 2024 to 270 last season as defenses zeroed in on stopping him.
Redshirt sophomore Matthew Fuller is the player most likely to lead the way. He was named the offensive player of the spring and is expected to open the season as the starter at tailback.
Fuller gave the Gamecocks a glimpse of what he can do last year, finishing with 260 yards and two touchdowns as a backup. His biggest burst came against LSU, when he ripped off a 72-yard touchdown run.
Sellers has seen enough of Fuller’s approach to like what he’s seeing. He said Fuller’s transition has been “super smooth,” and pointed to the back spending plenty of time in the football facility, watching film and asking questions of Drayton and offensive coordinator Kendal Briles.
USC also brought in help through the transfer portal. Penn State transfer Jabree Coleman joins the room, along with Texas transfer Christian Coleman, who rushed for over 100 yards in Texas’ Citrus Bowl win over Michigan. The Gamecocks still have Jawarn Howell and Isaiah Augustave in the mix as well.
The range of outcomes is pretty clear. At his best, Fuller could give USC something close to Rocket Sanders’ 2024 production, when Sanders rushed for nearly 900 yards. If it doesn’t click, the Gamecocks could end up shuffling backs all season without ever settling on a true lead runner.
In Other News...
South Carolina Tight End Battle Could Shape Kendal Briles New Offense
Kendal Briles arrival as South Carolinas new offensive coordinator is expected to bring a different look to the Gamecocks attack, and the tight end spot could be one of the clearest places where that shows up. The position is projected to matter more in this offense, which makes the summer and preseason competition worth watching as the staff sorts out who will fit where.
Brady Hunt looks positioned to lead the group, with Mo Brown and Mike Tyler in the mix behind him as South Carolina searches for the right secondary option. Freshman Caden Ramsey and senior Max Drag also add depth to a room that could become more important than it has been in recent seasons, and the way that rotation settles in may end up saying plenty about how quickly Briles can put his imprint on the offense. [Read more 🡒]
Clemsons Preseason Ranking Says Everything About Expectations Right Now
The preseason coaches poll came out with a familiar sense of reset for both sides of the Palmetto State rivalry, and it landed especially hard on Clemson. The Tigers checked in at No. 23, which is their lowest preseason placement under Dabo Swinney since 2011, while South Carolina was left out of the top 25 but still picked up votes as both programs try to move past disappointing 2025 seasons.
For South Carolina, the unranked-but-not-ignored status is its own kind of commentary. It suggests the Gamecocks are still on the radar, but not yet in the group the coaches are ready to trust, and it leaves plenty of room for the kind of September proving ground that can change a seasons tone quickly. For a team trying to climb back into the national conversation, the opening expectations are clear enough: there is work to do before anyone starts treating this as more than a team with a pulse. [Read more 🡒]
South Carolina Still Has One Big Receiver Question For 2026
South Carolina heads into the upcoming season still searching for a wide receiver to separate from the pack after last years production was spread around instead of being driven by one clear go-to target. That leaves plenty of room for opportunity, and it also keeps the spotlight on an offense trying to figure out who can become the reliable playmaker that changes how defenses line up against the Gamecocks.
Kendal Briles has pointed to a group of young receivers as the names to watch, which tells you the competition is far from settled. One of the more interesting pieces is newcomer Sequel Patterson, who missed spring practice while finishing his basketball and track seasons and is now working to make up ground in summer workouts, a reminder that South Carolinas receiver picture for 2026 is still very much taking shape. [Read more 🡒]