Christian Beal-Smith finds footing, brings new dynamic to USC running scheme
MarShawn Lloyd serves as South Carolina’s workhorse back, but Christian Beal-Smith adds a different dynamic to the backfield.
Beal-Smith — a transfer running back from Wake Forest — has played in four games for South Carolina, and the Gamecocks are 3-1 in those games. He’s up to four rushing touchdowns, including the one he scored in the first quarter against Texas A&M on Saturday.
Beal-Smith said he is trending toward feeling 100% as he works his way back from a foot injury he sustained during fall camp. Though he does not get the touches that Lloyd or Juju McDowell do, he believes his running style benefits USC.
“Just being a power back really,” Beal-Smith said. “We got speed backs. We got shifty backs. Just being able to be part of the offense and contribute each week is just uplifting for me.”
Beal-Smith received two direct snaps in the first quarter on Saturday, something the team added to the offense just a week ago.
The Gamecocks went 8-for-16 on third down, and one conversion came through a direct snap to Beal-Smith.
“We only ran it maybe two or three times in practice,” Beal-Smith said. “Just knowing that we were able to at least get the first down on one of those plays was pretty good.”
The direct snap allowed Beal-Smith to use his power to run downhill and gain a few yards. He said he never ran that play with the Demon Deacons.
“I think it’s fun,” Beal-Smith said. “It’s something I’ve always wanted to do.”
Beal-Smith racked up 1,871 yards and 14 touchdowns at Wake Forest. In the game against Charlotte, he ran for 55 yards, the most for him since last October.
Offensive lineman Eric Douglas noticed his gradual return to form, which he observed in practice.
He played with Beal-Smith in the 2016 Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas when they were in high school, saying he’s starting to look like that player again.
“He’s getting his footing back,” Douglas said in September. “He’s been in the game for a long time.”
The Gamecocks’ running game has made progress as a whole. The team totaled just 211 yards in the first three games. In this four-game winning streak, it’s averaging 194.3 per game.
Beal-Smith hasn’t had eye-popping yardage numbers so far, sitting at 88 total yards in 2022, but he’s managed to be an asset in USC’s run scheme.
His size helps him as a run blocker for outside runs. He picked up a key block on a 16-yard Jalen Brooks reverse play against Texas A&M. Perimeter blocking has been a point of emphasis for the team, and he’s aided the Gamecocks in that area.
Senior linebacker Brad Johnson observes Beal-Smith’s strength and power in practice. He said that he gives his all both as a ball carrier and as a blocker.
“That’s just the type of guy he is,” Johnson said. “Whatever his role is, he’s gonna do it to the best of his ability. Which I have a ton of respect for, because you’re not gonna get the ball 1,000 times a game.”
SOUTH CAROLINA VS. MISSOURI GAME INFO
Who: Missouri Tigers (3-4, 1-3 SEC) at South Carolina Gamecocks (5-2, 2-2 SEC)
Where: Williams-Brice Stadium (77,559) in Columbia, S.C.
When: 4 p.m. Saturday
TV: SEC Network
This story was originally published October 26, 2022 at 2:15 PM.
