Narii Gaither

HISTORY — From College Profile

All-America candidate … One of the top all-purpose backs in the nation entering the 2022 season … Preseason Big South Offensive Player of the Year, as voted on by the league’s head coaches and media … Also named Preseason Big South Offensive Player of the Year by Phil Steele Football … A preseason All-Big South selection by multiple outlets … Named to the East-West Shrine Bowl 1000 Watch List in mid-July … A preseason FCS All-America choice by Phil Steele Football … One of only two backs in the country returning for the 2022 season to lead team in both rushing and receptions … Has been the BIg South’s leading rusher for two seasons in a row … Enters senior season with 2,226 all-purpose yards and 1,454 yards on the ground in just 26 career games played … Has gone over the 100-yard mark seven times in 15 career starting assignments … Has 54 career receptions in 15 starts … Has scored 17 touchdowns in those same 15 games … Team leader and captain who has a bright future ahead on and off the field … Will handle kickoff and punt return duties in 2022.

2021 at Gardner-Webb: Named first-team All-Big South Conference for the second season in a row … Led the Big South with 991 yards rushing on 178 carries … Scored seven touchdowns and led the league with an average of 5.6 yards per carry … Finished as Gardner-Webb’s leading receiver with 42 catches for 351 yards and five touchdowns … Ranked No. 9 nationally with an average of 132.8 all-purpose yards per game … Produced five 100-yard rushing games, including two with 150 yards or more … Played in just 10 full games … Caught 10 passes in two different games … Tied a career-high with 151 yards and a touchdowns on 22 carries vs. Western Carolina (9/25) … Had a 29-yard catch in that win … Rushed 17 times for 150 yards and two touchdowns and caught five passes vs. Campbell (10/9) … Rushed 22 times for 117 yards and two touchdowns and caught 10 passes for 91 yards and the go-ahead score with 43 seconds left at No. 10 Kennesaw State (10/30) … Followed with 147 yards rushing on 27 carries to go with six catches for 57 yards and a touchdown at Hampton (11/6) … Capped season with 105 yards on 23 carries, along with 10 catches for 80 yards and two touchdowns in the win at North Carolina A&T (11/20) … Also averaged 21.8 yards on five kickoff returns, including a long of 42 yards in the near upset of FBS Georgia Southern (9/4) … Ran for 82 yards and a score on 16 carries at Charlotte (9/11).

Spring 2021 at Gardner-Webb: Earned first-team All-Big South Conference honors in first season as a starter … Led the team and ranked No. 2 in the league with 349 yards rushing and three touchdowns on 61 carries … Led the Big South with 5.7 yards per carry … Ranked second in the league and led Gardner-Webb with 122.0 all-purpose yards per game … Carried 18 times for a career-high 151 yards and a touchdown vs. Presbyterian (3/6) … Also caught four passes for 27 yards, including the game-winning touchdown … Broke school and Big South Conference records with his 96-yard touchdown run to open the game’s scoring … Had 222 all-purpose yards in that game … Came alive in the second half to rush for 111 yards and two key touchdowns on 19 carries to lift Gardner-Webb over No. 24 Elon (2/27) … Had 51 yards rushing on 16 carries at Charleston Southern (4/17).

2019 at Gardner-Webb: Played in 11 games … Ranked second on the team with 16 carries for 139 yards and a touchdown … Had seven carries for a season-best 95 yards and a touchdown vs. Campbell (10/26) … Broke off a 61-yard run in that game … Returned seven kickoffs for 139 yards on the season.

High School: Played at Rock Hill (S.C.) High under Coach David Pittman … Led team to an 8-3 mark in 2018 … A first-team Statewide All-State selection by the S.C. High School Sports Report following standout senior season … Named 2018 Area Offensive Player of the Year by the Rock Hill Herald … Also a first-team All-Area selection … Region 3-5A Player of the Year and Tri-County Coaches Association Offensive Player of the Year in 2018 … Carried 111 times for 1,573 yards and 18 touchdowns as a senior … Added 49 total tackles, five tackles for loss and two forced fumbles on defense … Was named 2017 Area Defensive Player of the Year by the Rock Hill Herald as a junior … Finished 2017 season with 123 total tackles (85 solo), 19.0 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, two interceptions, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and two blocked kicks … Carried 44 times for 229 yards on offense … An All-Region 4-5A selection and Tri-County Coaches Association Defensive Player of the Year for Class 4A/5A … Chose Gardner-Webb, over Tennessee Tech and North Carolina A&T.

--6/14/23