South Carolina just lost its likely starter at running back. So who steps up?
Mike Bobo’s response to losing what could be best playmaker was two-fold.
First, the South Carolina offensive coordinator felt a level of devastation for MarShawn Lloyd, the four-star freshman running back who impressed seemingly everyone in the Gamecocks’ program. And then the veteran coach fell back on an old cliche, “man down, man up.”
The Gamecocks on Thursday announced a season-ending ACL tear for Lloyd, an injury suffered in a non-contact practice situation a day earlier.
Someone is going to have to carry the ball if and when games happen. The Gamecocks have four more backs and some interesting talent on their roster.
“I’ve been pleased with the guys,” Bobo said. “The player of the day yesterday was [Deshaun] Fenwick, for our offense. Just his mind-set, how he’s gone about his business. He’s changed his body. And there’s competition in that room.
“Rashad Amos, a new guy, and then ... (Zaquandre White) is here now. One day with him on the field. He missed the first day with orientation. ... You saw some good things.”
One option who went unmentioned by Bobo is Kevin Harris, who showed well in spring last season and had a reserve role when he wasn’t sidelined by a groin injury. It’s worth looking at the four remaining options.
▪ White: A junior college transfer who led that level in yards per game last year (he missed a few games). He’s a versatile athlete to the point he played some linebacker as a redshirt freshman at Florida State and put up 22 tackles. With his experience, he could be in good position to start.
▪ Fenwick: A well-built runner at 6-foot-1, 220 pounds, he almost left the team before last season, but stuck around and seemed to have caught Bobo’s eye. He ran for 226 yards the past two seasons, with two 100-yard games against overmatched opponents.
▪ Harris: At 5-foot-11, 225 pounds, he’s a power back, occasionally moonlighting as a short-yardage fullback. He trampled a bad Charleston Southern team last season and rallied back from a torn ligament in his groin to play the final four games of the season.
▪ Amos: Seen by many as the second back in the incoming class, he arrived at a solid 6-foot-2, 215 pounds. He put up strong numbers for a good program in Georgia (1,324 rushing yards, 30 touchdowns, 478 yards and six scores receiving). He might have a little A.J. Turner to his game, but comes in much bigger.
Harris and Fenwick spoke before the Lloyd news dropped, and neither felt like they were overlooked, despite the hype Lloyd was receiving.
“What we have in this room, we’re flooding with talent in this room,” Fenwick said. “I assume we’ll have a lot of production in the run game as far as our offense in general.”
Harris added: “We’re all just doing a good job of competing. So not really worried about it.”
Fenwick has said he likes the new offense and some of the different run looks that are a part of it.
When Lloyd was a potential centerpiece, it seemed as if he and the veteran presence of White could provide a 1-2 punch at the top. The news Thursday could mean relying on more depth, and Bobo admitted the downside of an early injury is the reality it’s likely not going to be the last.
“We all know, in this league, you’re going to need additional running backs,” Bobo said. “We’ve got to get those guys ready to play, this year more than any.”
The last time a Gamecocks running back with a big role played every game was A.J. Turner in 2017. Before that, it was Mike Davis in 2014, a year where he dealt with nagging injuries.
On the offensive line, the Gamecocks will return three starters from last season and start a junior college lineman who impressed in camp. They’ll also involve a fullback, as Bobo’s schemes bring more pro-style looks and downhill running into the mix.
The Gamecocks at least get a few extra weeks before starting the season and have yet to work out in pads. But Bobo admitted, that’s only so valuable with backs. He can see speed and if they know what they’re doing, but he can’t see if there’s that little flinch right before contact and the clatter of pads.
“Let’s be honest,” Bobo said, “we’ve been out there in shorts and haven’t been playing real football. It’s always tough to tell about a running back.”
This story was originally published August 21, 2020 at 5:00 AM.
