How this new transfer running back is already giving the Gamecocks a spark
Isaiah Augustave arrived in Columbia in June as a late transfer portal addition for Shane Beamer and the South Carolina football team.
He’s only been with the Gamecocks for a few months but he’s already turning heads.
“We’re really excited about him,” Beamer said Tuesday. “You forget that he just got here in the summertime. He’s got speed, he’s got explosiveness.
Augustave transferred to South Carolina after spending the 2024 season with Colorado. Last year, as a sophomore, he led Colorado with 85 carries for 394 rushing yards and four touchdowns. Augustave started his career at Arkansas and initially committed to Virginia back in April before landing in Columbia with the Gamecocks.
South Carolina had its second scrimmage of preseason practice this past Saturday. Beamer told the media on Tuesday Augustave impressed with a long run.
“He had the longest run, at least in a scrimmage, of the preseason the other day where he broke a tackle and had a 60-70 yard run which was impressive to see,” Beamer said. “We need that explosiveness at the running back position, for sure.”
Augustave checks in at 6-foot-2, 210 pounds. Beamer said his size makes him a “hard runner” and added he’s also shown flashes on special teams because of it too.
“He’s a guy that is very serious about his work,” Beamer said. “(He) can run. He’s got size. He’s got an explosiveness to him when he hits the hole. He’s a hard runner, and has been really good for us on special teams as well because of his size and speed of getting downhill.”
Before preseason camp started South Carolina running backs coach Marquel Blackwell lauded Augustave’s physical and mental abilities.
“I think he’s got short area quickness,” Blackwell told The State. He’s a bigger guy. He can finish the runs down the field…One thing I know he does is he retains the information really well, and that’s a positive. So we’re just looking forward to implementing him and just seeing how this thing works itself out.”
Augustave, Faison could beef up RB position
The early returns on Augustave are a good sign given the precarious situation South Carolina’s running backs room is in.
Beamer and the Gamecocks have been waiting since January to see if transfer running back Rahsul Faison will be granted a waiver for a seventh year of eligibility by the NCAA. Faison was expected to come in and fight for the starting spot, but Beamer said Tuesday he, once again, still has “no update” on if he’ll be able to play or not.
Augustave’s addition (and Faison’s, in theory, for that matter) could help beef up a running back room that returns just one running back from last year who logged more than 50 carries and only two who tallied over 100 rushing yards in 2024.
Coming into preseason camp, Blackwell said the running backs would be by committee until someone steps in front as the guy – regardless of if Faison was playing or not. On Tuesday, Beamer said he’s proud of how South Carolina’s running backs have supported Faison while also remaining competitive despite the uncertainty.
“I believe this, we’re better in that running back room than what we were last year,” Beamer said. “And that’s nothing against anybody that was here (last year)...We have more depth in that room this year. And they’re all really supportive of one another and knowing that they’re all competing with each other and making one another better. And they’re all supportive of (Rahsul) and (Rahsul) is supportive of them, and then they’ve done a good job of working together without a doubt.”
Gamecocks prep for season as Faison’s eligibilty unknown
Beamer also acknowledged it’s a unique situation from a preparation standpoint. South Carolina is preparing as if Faison will be able to play, but if he can’t play, Beamer and his staff have to make sure other running backs are prepared enough in practice too.
Beamer said Faison was limited some last week with a shoulder bruise and that gave other running backs, like Augustave for example, an opportunity to get more reps in practice.
“We haven’t had a conversation where I told Coach Blackwell, ‘Hey, let’s not use (Faison) here, because we don’t know,’,” Beamer said. “It’s more, let’s play on him playing and let’s do what we would do if there wasn’t an eligibility issue. Also, though, understanding that we’ve got other running backs that are going to play, whether (Faison) is eligible or not, you’re going to see more than one or two running backs out there. So let’s get those guys ready to go.”
