NFL rushing champ, Pro Bowler sends message to Gamecocks’ new-look running back room
Marquel Blackwell has a strong track record of working with high-level running backs. One of them had a message for South Carolina’s 2024 players.
Blackwell, the new South Carolina running backs coach who replaced Montario Hardesty, had Cleveland Browns running back Kareem Hunt Face-time his USC running back group recently. Blackwell coached Hunt in college at Toledo, where the future NFL player led the Mid-American Conference with 1,475 yards during this final season there.
Hunt led the NFL in rushing yards as a rookie with Kansas City in 2017 was picked for the Pro Bowl that year.
“He told us about everything and that we should listen to Coach Blackwell. He said Coach Blackwell knows what he is doing, great dude and that he will help us get better this season,” running back Oscar Adaway said Thursday as USC’s incoming transfers met with local reporters for the first time.
Adaway, who transferred from North Texas, said Hunt’s message was encouraging for the running backs group and in Blackwell’s ability to help elevate their production in 2024. The Gamecocks (85.1 yards a game) ranked last in the Southeastern Conference last season and were 126 out of 130 Football Bowl Subdivision schools in rushing.
Blackwell has coached three different backs to leading a conference in rushing — Hunt, Tony Swanson (Toledo) and Quinshon Judkins (Ole Miss).
Adaway is one of four new USC running backs, with three coming from the transfer portal. Raheim “Rocket” Sanders transferred from Arkansas, and Jawarn Howell came after one season at S.C. State. Matthew Fuller, USC’s lone high school running back signee, will arrive on campus in June.
“We changed the perception and stigma of the running back room at South Carolina,” Adaway said. “We are trying to be in the top 25 in rushing this year, and that is Coach Blackwell’s main objective.”
This story was originally published February 8, 2024 at 12:52 PM.
