Shane Beamer discusses South Carolina's need for more depth at running back

South Carolina needs more running backs. Head coach Shane Beamer isn’t afraid to admit this concerning fact.

“That’s certainly a position where you got to be creative in general and being able to get the ball in different people’s hands,” Beamer told the media last month. “You can throw a bubble screen out there on the perimeter. In a lot of ways, that’s like a run, as well. But there’s no question, we need more depth at the running back position.”

That’s an understatement. JuJu McDowell is the team’s leading returning back. The 5-foot-9 junior recorded just 62 carries for 219 yards last season. Marshawn Lloyd, who led the Gamecocks in rushing yards in 2022, is now at USC.

Tight end Jaheim Bell had the second-most rushing yards last season, but he transferred to Florida State in December. Despite having more talent in the running back room last year, South Carolina struggled mightily.

The team cranked out a mere 118.8 rushing yards per game in 2022, ranking 106th out of 131 teams in the nation. The already subpar statistic is a foreboding sign for the Gamecocks in the upcoming season. Nonetheless, Beamer isn’t worried.

“I’m not as worried about the running back position as maybe the outside narrative,” Beamer said. “Do I wish we had more? Yeah, absolutely. But it’s not like we’re sitting, and it’s Armageddon in our building because we didn’t get our transfer running back. We’ll be fine.”

New offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains will be pivotal to proving Loggains’ words true. Loggains spent the last two seasons as the Arkansas tight ends coach. Nonetheless, before his tenure in Fayetteville, Loggains spent 16 years in the NFL (2005-2020) with six different organizations, primarily as a quarterbacks coach, including seven seasons as an offensive coordinator.

If anybody can figure out how to minimize the damage of a weak running back room, it’s Loggains. Beamer is confident in his program’s ability to make the most of the unfortunate situation.

“Other players on the team have to be able to help us generate some runs. Whether it be some of the Wildcat quarterback stuff we did with [Dakereon Joyner] last year or other players on the team,” Beamer said. “You just got to keep your options open and kind of evaluate guys when they get there and see what they can do.”

It won’t be much longer before South Carolina gets there. The Gamecocks will play their season-opener against rival North Carolina on Sept. 2.