Spencer Rattler assesses South Carolina's running back play during camp

South Carolina took a big hit to the running back room this offseason when MarShawn Lloyd transferred to USC and tight end Jaheim Bell (who had 73 carries in 2022) leaving to Florida State. But heading into the 2023 season with some high hopes, Gamecocks quarterback Spencer Rattler is high on the group of backs he’ll be playing with.

Dakereon Joyner, a converted former quarterback, will be the lead running back, Rattler said. But the likes of JuJu McDowell, Dontavius “Djay” Braswell and Mario Anderson have Rattler feeling very good about the position group.

“Running backs have looked great. DK is obviously our starter and we’re going to roll with him. You guys know how he is. He can make any play on the field. Obviously JuJu, Djay Braswell’s looked really good. Mario Anderson. Running back room is pretty deep, so we just gotta keep feeding them the rock and try to get our run game going,” Rattler said.

Rattler is actually the teams returning leader in carries, although that figure does include sacks. Suffice to say, there is minimal game experience returning in the backfield.

McDowell is the leading returning rusher with 219 yards a season ago and Joyner, who is a remarkable athlete but has played mostly quarterback until now, had 12 carries for 56 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

The track record might be short, but Rattler is confident in this group of running backs to give South Carolina what it needs on the ground.

Rattler is liking how the new offense is taking shape under Dowell Loggains

The Gamecocks gunslinger feels terrific about where things are headed.

“This is the best camp I’ve been a part of,” Rattler said. “Offensively I love everything we’re doing. I don’t feel any growing pains myself.”

Rattler is coming off a bit of an inconsistent season in his first year for South Carolina. He had four games with multiple interceptions, though one of those came in a strong overall performance in a win at No. 8 Clemson.

Still, he’d like to become a little more consistent. And that only happens if he’s meshing well with everyone around him.

“The group has been gelling,” he said. “We’ve been playing fast. We have a ton of explosive plays and touchdowns this camp, I mean way more than last year for sure.”

If there have been any growing pains for Rattler, he sure hasn’t noticed them yet this fall. Things have been pretty smooth. That wasn’t necessarily the case a year ago.

“I feel like it’s a complete turn, but like you said we’ve got to come out and do it and prove it,” Rattler told the reporter who asked how camp was going. “So we’re just going to keep stacking days and keep gelling and keep creating that chemistry.”