FOOTBALL. AUGUST 31, 2022
MarShawn Lloyd will be the first to tell you that while he was healthy last season, he still wasn’t himself. Now a red-shirt sophomore, the talented running back is poised for a breakout season.
“Physically, I was there, but mentally, I knew I wasn’t there,” said Lloyd who struggled last year in his return from a torn ACL prior to the 2020 season. “I’m a competitor, so I wanted to be out there and compete at a high level. That all takes a toll on your body. Now, I feel great physically and mentally. My time is now.”
Lloyd was a highly touted running back coming out of Dematha High School in Maryland, but his college career went off the rails his first year with the Gamecocks after suffering a season-ending knee injury on the second day of fall camp.
After surgery and rehabilitation, Lloyd was cleared to play last year, and while he had some good moments, he still struggled.
“It was very frustrating because I thought I could do some things, but I wasn’t able to do some of them,” Lloyd said. “It’s frustrating in knowing what I could do before I got hurt, and then not being able to move the way I wanted to move and cut the way I wanted to.
“I never thought about quitting, but when I got hurt, I had a lot of thoughts like, why me? I love this sport, and everything that goes with it, such as working out and working hard. Not being able to do that put me in a bad spot.”
Lloyd played in 12 games for the Gamecocks last season, carrying the ball 64 times for 228 yards (3.6 yards per carry) and one touchdown. Heading into 2022, Lloyd has something that was missing: confidence.
MarShawn Lloyd Looks to Turn the Corner
BY BRAD MULLER/FROM USC SPORTS MEDIAMarShawn Lloyd will be the first to tell you that while he was healthy last season, he still wasn’t himself. Now a red-shirt sophomore, the talented running back is poised for a breakout season.
“Physically, I was there, but mentally, I knew I wasn’t there,” said Lloyd who struggled last year in his return from a torn ACL prior to the 2020 season. “I’m a competitor, so I wanted to be out there and compete at a high level. That all takes a toll on your body. Now, I feel great physically and mentally. My time is now.”
Lloyd was a highly touted running back coming out of Dematha High School in Maryland, but his college career went off the rails his first year with the Gamecocks after suffering a season-ending knee injury on the second day of fall camp.
After surgery and rehabilitation, Lloyd was cleared to play last year, and while he had some good moments, he still struggled.
“It was very frustrating because I thought I could do some things, but I wasn’t able to do some of them,” Lloyd said. “It’s frustrating in knowing what I could do before I got hurt, and then not being able to move the way I wanted to move and cut the way I wanted to.
“I never thought about quitting, but when I got hurt, I had a lot of thoughts like, why me? I love this sport, and everything that goes with it, such as working out and working hard. Not being able to do that put me in a bad spot.”
Lloyd played in 12 games for the Gamecocks last season, carrying the ball 64 times for 228 yards (3.6 yards per carry) and one touchdown. Heading into 2022, Lloyd has something that was missing: confidence.
MARSHAWN LLOYD
