David Williams plans to take over Gamecocks’ running game

South Carolina’s concerns at quarterback are an issue, but no matter who the Gamecocks select, worries can be eased with a strong running game. USC wants to control the clock and move the chains with its legs instead of heavily relying on the starting quarterback’s arm.

David Williams aims to provide that cushion.

“We’ve been doing great in the run game, from the practices and the scrimmages. It’s been pretty balanced,” the junior said at USC’s last practice before the Garnet and Black Spring Game. “I’ve been in position at practice and all that to be the guy.”

After two seasons of backing up Mike Davis and Brandon Wilds, Williams seems to be the top choice to tote the ball in 2016. He had solid numbers as a redshirt freshman in 2014, logging 256 yards and two touchdowns on 45 carries, but his production dipped in 2015.

Williams was down more than two yards per carry from 2014, posting 299 yards on 86 attempts and failing to find the end zone. The bullishness he displayed in 2014 wasn’t as evident and Williams always seemed to have a problem getting into his runs – he couldn’t help who blocked for him but he could help getting his feet elevated above the ground.

The stunning loss to The Citadel last year was everyone’s fault but it was Williams who had the ball twice in the final five minutes, trying to move the sticks and get the Gamecocks in field-goal range. Trailing by a point at the Bulldogs’ 48-yard-line, Williams got two of the three required yards on third down.

On fourth-and-1, Williams again got the ball. USC’s five linemen blocked three Bulldog defenders, leaving Mark Thomas with a clear view of Williams. Thomas dropped him with a bear hug and The Citadel took over.

Again, everybody contributed to that defeat. But it was Williams who bore the brunt of the venom afterward.

There’s no guarantee that USC would have won even if he had gotten the first down. Yet he had the opportunity to give the Gamecocks another chance, and he didn’t get it done.

“I think it was mediocre,” Williams said, describing his 2015 season. “Mediocre. I feel like I was put in a position where I wasn’t being used the best way.”

Williams played in doses, averaging 7-8 carries per game with a high of 14 against UCF. He rushed 10 times against Texas A&M, then topped out at five carries in losses to Tennessee, The Citadel and Clemson.

“I need the ball more than once, more than three or five times, just to see and get a feel for the game instead of just going in and having a mindset like, ‘I got to hurry up and try to score before my turn was up,’” he said. “I wasn’t able to be comfortable and let the game come to me.”

There are several running backs on the 2016 roster, but Williams seems to be the top choice for No. 1. Darius Paulk and Rod Talley have scarce experience despite their age (and most of what they do have came at other schools) while Mon Denson, A.J. Turner, C.J. Freeman and Rico Dowdle have never played.

Brandon McIlwain can give the running game a boost, but there’s no telling how much he’ll be asked to or even if he’ll be the main QB. The Gamecocks will need a strong presence at running back no matter who’s handing the ball to them.

“We will run the ball,” coach Will Muschamp said. “David and A.J. complement each other really well, because they have a little bit of different styles.”

Williams’ line from the spring game was 6 yards on six carries. It was a scrimmage and USC was avoiding any situations where players would get bunched up.

He would have liked to do better, but the real test comes on Sept. 1.

“It’s been going great,” Williams said. “It’s starting to get normal now. It’s normal, us coming out here and giving effort and straining every day. It’s become a habit.”

This story was originally published April 11, 2016 at 3:12 PM with the headline "David Williams plans to take over Gamecocks’ running game."