January 15, 2025
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Oscar Adaway on approach to South Carolina running back battle

Oscar Adaway is aiming to win spring competition to be Gamecocks’ starting running back

COLUMBIA — South Carolina signed a running back from the transfer portal, Utah State’s Rahsul Faison leaving his winter boots behind but toting his 1,109 rushing yards to campus for the current semester. It’s part of the new recruiting cycle: The Gamecocks lost running backs Rocket Sanders and Juju McDowell, and while there are some backups already in place, searching for an immediate-impact guy is the standard.

Welcome, Oscar Adaway says. Glad to have you.

Gamecocks' Oscar Adaway ready to be RB1 in 2025 | Sports |  postandcourier.com

But as for the coveted job as RB1 for the 2025 Gamecocks offense, it’s a competition. Faison may be looked at as “they’re not going to bring in a guy like that and not play him,” but the rotation will not be set until the day before kickoff on Aug. 31.

He bluntly responded, “That’s for God to decide,” when asked after the Citrus Bowl if he was going to be the top back next season. Heavenly influence may play into it, but the rest is up to him.

And he, unlike the new guy, has been here and is coming off a dynamic last game with the Gamecocks.

Adaway, playing hurt after he rolled his ankle in practice leading up to the game, rushed 14 times for 69 yards, scoring one of USC’s two touchdowns on a 36-yard jaunt. He also caught seven balls for 37 yards, giving him a strong season line of 295 rushing yards and three TDs, 15 catches for 145.

Excellent numbers considering he was running third string. The transfer from North Texas then took over the position in the “what to say” category.

Oscar Adaway on approach to South Carolina running back battle

He didn’t want to hear about how well he played. Not with USC holding the short end of a 21-17 Citrus Bowl.

“I felt like I let the team down. With the touches I had, I feel like I should have done more,” Adaway said. “That’s what my job is, to get this team a W. They put the ball in my hands that many times, that’s what I’m expecting.”

Coaches praised his performance and offered the standard of turning the page to spring practice, which is where Adaway can take the next steps toward his goal. Faison, Jawarn Howell, Matthew Fuller and Bradley Dunn are the other scholarship RBs expected to be on the spring roster.

Coach Shane Beamer has always stressed that nobody’s job is secure, that anyone up to and including starting quarterback LaNorris Sellers has to earn and re-earn their job every day in practice. So the spring, the abbreviated 15 practice sessions, may have a probable starting RB when it ends, but that doesn’t guarantee that it will last longer than the first rep of preseason camp.

Oscar Adaway on approach to South Carolina running back battle

Workouts and conditioning have already begun. Adaway is heavily involved.

He wants to repeat what the Gamecocks had this past season, and take it one more step. And he’s aiming to be one of the men that gets them there.

“I can’t ask for anything else. I transferred here, so I’ve seen other teams, I’ve seen other coaching staffs,” he said. “I told these guys every day, what we got here is special.”

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