Former Gamecocks quarterback emerging as likely starter at new ACC school
Robby Ashford only played one season at USC, but he made a lasting impression.
Now, he’s trying to parlay that success into a grand finale at Wake Forest.
Ashford transferred to South Carolina last year after stints at Oregon and Auburn and ended up working as quarterback LaNorris Sellers’ top backup in 2024.
The journeyman quarterback stepped in admirably when Sellers was hurt against LSU, started and won a game against Akron the following week and was well-regarded enough among his coaches and teammates that Shane Beamer allowed Ashford to practice and travel with the team through USC’s Dec. 31 bowl game — even though he’d entered the transfer portal earlier that month.
Ashford committed to Wake Forest and first-year coach Jake Dickert in January and is now considered the favorite to start at quarterback for the Demon Deacons.
“Robby Ashford, he’s a special talent and a special kid,” Wake Forest offensive lineman Devin Kylany said. “So I’m really excited to play for him. He loves this opportunity. … However he can help the team, I know he’s willing to do that.”
Speaking at the ACC Kickoff preseason media event last month, Dickert, who came to Wake Forest after four seasons at Washington State, added that Ashford is a “tremendous athlete and an elite competitor” who will have a role on offense regardless of whether he starts for the Demon Deacons.
Ashford remains in a QB competition with Charlotte transfer Deshawn Purdie, but Ashford has reportedly been taking the majority of first-team reps in practice.
“I believe Robby Ashford is always going to have a package in our offense because he’s that elite of an athlete,” Dickert said. “Who’s commanding the other 75% of the snaps? That’ll be something that’ll be won out there on the practice field.”
Looking back on Robby Ashford’s time with Gamecocks
After Spencer Rattler graduated, Beamer and the Gamecocks wanted a veteran option to compete with Sellers for USC’s starting quarterback job heading into 2024. They decided on Ashford, who started 10 games for Auburn from 2022-23.
Sellers came out of spring practice as the starter and promptly became a breakout star. But Ashford played a key role for South Carolina, appearing in eight games and racking up 376 total yards and three touchdowns in his lone start against Akron.
“He rushed for over 900 yards in the SEC and obviously was in a great, competitive battle in South Carolina,” Dickert said of Ashford. “It’s just one of those things where it’s been an interesting journey. … We’re just anxious to utilize his strengths.”
Questions remain about how effective Ashford can be as a passer. Over 30 career games, he’s completed just 51.8% of his passes and has an 11:9 touchdown-interception ratio. That’s the primary reason he fell out of favor at Auburn and ultimately transferred to the Gamecocks.
Ashford has one last chance to prove himself as a college quarterback at Wake Forest, which has posted consecutive losing seasons and lost longtime coach Dave Clawson to retirement last year. Dickert’s first Wake team was picked to finish 16th out of 17 ACC teams in the preseason media poll.
Kylany, Wake Forest’s starting center, said Ashford isn’t alone in that regard.
“There’s a lot of seniors on this team that are well aware that this is the last ride,” Kylany said. “Not everyone can just keep digging in the bucket for another year of eligibility. So I know he’s not taking this moment for granted, and he’s really excited about just the opportunity.”
This story was originally published August 14, 2025 at 8:10 AM.
