Concerned with South Carolina’s running back room? Don’t be, Montario Hardesty says

South Carolina running backs coach Montario Hardesty understands the outside concerns around the Gamecocks backfield.
But he doesn’t seem to share them.
“I think some of it is warranted,” Hardesty told The State on Wednesday during the annual Birdies With Beamer media golf outing. “I think that it’s going to be a great time for us to show what we have in the room. And I think guys have chips on their shoulder, but we definitely have guys that have SEC skillsets. I think we’re going to be able to run the ball this year, and that’s going to be for us to show.”
The Gamecocks running back room is thin, at least based on proven SEC experience. But the group is brimming with potential in veteran newbies and incoming freshmen eager to shush the doubters.
The only running back remaining from last year’s group is junior Juju McDowell, who played in all 13 games last year and started two. Sixth-year senior Dakereon Joyner moved to running back — his fourth collegiate position — in spring to help alleviate the lack of depth. Division II transfer Mario Anderson will have to make the leap from dominating at his previous school to a major role on a top-half SEC team. Freshman Djay Braswell will be expected to contribute, and his classmate Kamron Sandlin will start in the group as well.
USC had 1,545 net rushing yards and 27 rushing touchdowns in 2022. More than half of each statistic — 990 yards and 17 touchdowns — came from tailbacks no longer on the team. South Carolina lost MarShawn Lloyd (573 yards, nine rushing touchdowns) and Jaheim Bell (261 yards, three rushing touchdowns) to the transfer portal and Christian Beal-Smith (156 yards, five rushing touchdowns) to graduation.
“I know everybody’s worried about Lloyd,” Hardesty said. “That’s the person everybody cares about, I think because he was a fan favorite. But I really do think we have some guys that will be capable at the running back position.”
The first name Hardesty mentioned next was Joyner. Hardesty said he watched Joyner play last year and saw a running back. Since then Joyner has put on about 15 pounds — up from 215 to 229 from last year — and embraced the position change.
“He’s been great for the room,” Hardesty said. “He’s one of our leaders on the team, so he’s brought maturity to the room. And he really is a good player, but he has natural running back movements. Really good pass protection. He can catch out of the backfield.”
Mario Anderson enrolled at South Carolina in January after three seasons at Newberry College. While there he accumulated 3,301 rushing yards — averaging 6.4 yards per carry over his career — and 35 rushing touchdowns. Anderson was named a finalist for the Harlon Hill Trophy, considered the Heisman Trophy of Division II, last season.
His biggest “learning curve” from DII to the SEC will be improving his blitz pickup, Hardesty said. He went on to add that most Division II teams run a Cover 3 buzz — a four-under zone defense in which a safety is brought down inside a nickel (or open-side linebacker). In the SEC, though, Hardesty said “it’s gonna be a different front every other play.” Anderson will have to learn to identify those defensive fronts and adjust accordingly.
During the spring McDowell proved his ability to catch out of the backfield, Hardesty said. The junior’s biggest opportunities for growth come in improving his blitz pickup and upping his weight. McDowell stands at 5-foot-9, 171 pounds, according to South Carolina’s 2023 media guide.
Shane Beamer has spoken at length about USC’s plans to play true freshmen at “every single position” this season. That includes Braswell.
The four-star signee out of Georgia will have opportunities to showcase his natural speed, hands and field vision, Hardesty said. He gushed over Braswell’s size — 5-foot-11, 204 pounds — and speed. The biggest thing for him, as true with all freshmen, will be learning the playbook.
“They naturally can run the ball,” Hardesty said of players transitioning from high school to college. “That’s why I’m going to recruit you. But now, the nuances of the game, you know. How do you pick up blitz? How does he set the rotation? Those would be the good things from him that I’m gonna be able to see throughout training camp. But this summer he’s done a good job.”
As far as whether the coaching staff will identify lead backs or approach the position as a group effort this season, both Hardesty and Beamer said that’s still to be determined. It’s a position ripe for fatigue, hot streaks and cold periods. The personnel’s in-season evolution will determine the game plan.
“We also understand our depth is not necessarily where we want it to be,” Beamer said Wednesday. “We’ve got to do a great job of developing the ones that we have and being creative with what we do in the run game.”
Kamron Sandlin SWITCHING TO RUNNING BACK
Sandlin played quarterback in high school but signed as a tight end. At 6-foot-3, 214 pounds, the three-star from Alabama will be USC’s biggest scholarship player at running back.
“He’s a big athlete,” Hardesty said, speaking during the annual Birdies With Beamer media golf outing. “He was a running quarterback. I think he can play multiple positions on offense, from h-back to tight end to running back. But I think he’s a natural runner. So I think he’s gonna start in our room, and we’ll go from there.
“I’m excited about him. He’s a football-smart guy.”
Sandlin contributed 3,143 yards and 37 total touchdowns as a senior, according to the Anniston Star.
SCHOLARSHIP PLAYERS AT RUNNING BACK
Juju McDowell (Jr.)
Dakereon Joyner (S-Sr.)
Mario Anderson (R-Sr.)
Djay Braswell (Fr.)
Kamron Sandlin (Fr.)
This story was originally
Published July 28, 2023, 6:45 AM.