Gamecocks have new faces at Runningback for 2023
August 05, 2023
Mario Anderson’s transfer from Newberry College might suggest. The 2022 Harlon Hill Trophy finalist looks the part of a Southeastern Conference back. He’s 5-foot-9 and 208 pounds, and his speed, too, shows plenty on film, it may well become increasingly hard to ignore Anderson as the season inches closer. “Every opportunity that I have no matter how big or how small I try to seize the opportunity,” Anderson said. “Because the window is not that big. I don’t have four years. I’ve only got two. So I try to seize every opportunity possible.”
South Carolina’s running back room has been as popular a topic of discussion as there is around this year’s squad throughout the offseason. Leading rusher MarShawn Lloyd transferred to Southern Cal. Do-it-all tight end/tailback Jaheim Bell also left, heading to Florida State. That leaves a running back room likely to be helmed by converted receiver Dakereon Joyner and Juju McDowell, along with pieces like Anderson and four-star freshman Djay Braswell (along with freshman athlete Kam Sandlin) to round out a group that feels anything but certain to produce. “All the running backs we have in the room are special,” Anderson said. “Everybody brings a different variety (of skills) to the table. The competition, you have to bring it every day, no matter where you are on the depth chart. I believe that my skill set is very vital, at some point, to the game, some points in the offense.
Anderson is as intriguing a piece as there is on the Gamecocks’ roster. His numbers at Newberry suggest as much. He finished his time with the Wolves rushing for 3,301 yards the third most in school history and 35 touchdowns. Anderson also averaged 6.4 yards per touch over his 513 carries and rushed for 100 or more yards in 16 of his 29 games at Newberry. Now, though, comes adjusting to the speed and playbook of an SEC offense. Anderson shrugs his shoulders a smidge at the thought of transitioning. He notes there’s certainly an adjustment, but others have made the same leap. Running backs coach Montario Hardesty echoed his assessment. “I think the things that translate have already shown,” Hardesty said. “He’s got vision, great runner and really he has the ability to break tackles.
If he can break tackles at Newberry, he can break tags in the SEC as well.” Beyond Anderson, Braswell feels like a potential difference-maker as early as this year. Coach Shane Beamer quipped the four-star tailback is faster than even he realized during the recruiting process, and Hardesty concurred. That speed checks out. Braswell was a state champion in the 100-meter dash at the high school level. How will that translate to pads? We’ll see, but the coaching staff is anxious to see as training camp begins in earnest this week.
“He’s showing his stuff with speed,” Hardesty said. “He’s faster than I thought he was. But, once again, I just want to see him put it all together. I think speed is going to be a great asset for him. But it’s putting those things together because every game you’re not gonna take one 70 or 80 (yards). Let me see you do it in between the tackles, know where the free hitters are at, slash north-to-south. That’s what I want to see.” South Carolina’s running back room remains a mystery. Joyner to an extent and McDowell are the most proven pieces. Both have ample SEC snaps under their belt, but McDowell (his small size) and Joyner (his position change) give reasons for pause. Enter Anderson and Braswell. Neither player has received the number of headlines of Joyner and/or McDowell, but there’s the talent to work with. Beamer has said throughout the offseason he’s less worried about his stable of tailbacks than those outside the program might suggest. The season opener against North Carolina is now officially less than a month away.
August 05, 2023
Mario Anderson’s transfer from Newberry College might suggest. The 2022 Harlon Hill Trophy finalist looks the part of a Southeastern Conference back. He’s 5-foot-9 and 208 pounds, and his speed, too, shows plenty on film, it may well become increasingly hard to ignore Anderson as the season inches closer. “Every opportunity that I have no matter how big or how small I try to seize the opportunity,” Anderson said. “Because the window is not that big. I don’t have four years. I’ve only got two. So I try to seize every opportunity possible.”
South Carolina’s running back room has been as popular a topic of discussion as there is around this year’s squad throughout the offseason. Leading rusher MarShawn Lloyd transferred to Southern Cal. Do-it-all tight end/tailback Jaheim Bell also left, heading to Florida State. That leaves a running back room likely to be helmed by converted receiver Dakereon Joyner and Juju McDowell, along with pieces like Anderson and four-star freshman Djay Braswell (along with freshman athlete Kam Sandlin) to round out a group that feels anything but certain to produce. “All the running backs we have in the room are special,” Anderson said. “Everybody brings a different variety (of skills) to the table. The competition, you have to bring it every day, no matter where you are on the depth chart. I believe that my skill set is very vital, at some point, to the game, some points in the offense.
Anderson is as intriguing a piece as there is on the Gamecocks’ roster. His numbers at Newberry suggest as much. He finished his time with the Wolves rushing for 3,301 yards the third most in school history and 35 touchdowns. Anderson also averaged 6.4 yards per touch over his 513 carries and rushed for 100 or more yards in 16 of his 29 games at Newberry. Now, though, comes adjusting to the speed and playbook of an SEC offense. Anderson shrugs his shoulders a smidge at the thought of transitioning. He notes there’s certainly an adjustment, but others have made the same leap. Running backs coach Montario Hardesty echoed his assessment. “I think the things that translate have already shown,” Hardesty said. “He’s got vision, great runner and really he has the ability to break tackles.
If he can break tackles at Newberry, he can break tags in the SEC as well.” Beyond Anderson, Braswell feels like a potential difference-maker as early as this year. Coach Shane Beamer quipped the four-star tailback is faster than even he realized during the recruiting process, and Hardesty concurred. That speed checks out. Braswell was a state champion in the 100-meter dash at the high school level. How will that translate to pads? We’ll see, but the coaching staff is anxious to see as training camp begins in earnest this week.
“He’s showing his stuff with speed,” Hardesty said. “He’s faster than I thought he was. But, once again, I just want to see him put it all together. I think speed is going to be a great asset for him. But it’s putting those things together because every game you’re not gonna take one 70 or 80 (yards). Let me see you do it in between the tackles, know where the free hitters are at, slash north-to-south. That’s what I want to see.” South Carolina’s running back room remains a mystery. Joyner to an extent and McDowell are the most proven pieces. Both have ample SEC snaps under their belt, but McDowell (his small size) and Joyner (his position change) give reasons for pause. Enter Anderson and Braswell. Neither player has received the number of headlines of Joyner and/or McDowell, but there’s the talent to work with. Beamer has said throughout the offseason he’s less worried about his stable of tailbacks than those outside the program might suggest. The season opener against North Carolina is now officially less than a month away.
