Juju McDowell willing to do anything to impact winning
It might not have worked, but Juju McDowell made sure to try and press Marcus Satterfield on playing center for the Gamecocks.
It didn’t work, but his insistence just shows McDowell’s willingness to play any role needed for South Carolina to win football games.
“Anywhere, like in different packages I don’t mind going out wide, I don’t mind coming to the side. I don’t mind playing back,” McDowell said. “I told coach Satterfield the other day if you need me to play center I’ll play center.”
Entering his second year with the program, the Gamecocks might ask him to do everything but play offensive line.
He’s coming off a year where he rushed 52 times for 248 yards and two scores en route to AP and SEC all-freshmen nods. He was also the Male Athlete of the Year, awarded by the athletic department.
Satterfield used the 5-foot-9 running back in a few different packages last season.
McDowell isn’t the biggest guy in the room, but he doesn’t let that affect him. Eric Douglas has noticed McDowell’s high-level pass protection.
“They make us look good when we’re run blocking. But the main thing that I love from them is when they’re willing and ready to stick their nose in there,” he said. “Like Juju, however much he weighs, he’s ready to stick his nose in there. That’s the fight I love from our running backs and I’m ready to go to war for them.”
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McDowell laughed when he found out his pass protection prowess leaked to the media. But he quickly owned up to how much he enjoyed doing it at South Carolina.
“It’s kind of hard to explain. A lot of people that are actually contrary on that statement because I’m a smaller guy but I like to get dirty,” McDowell said. “I like to help those big guys out and as long as I can help Spencer get the ball off I feel great, sometimes it’s better than a 20-yard run.”
A multi-talented, multi-faceted McDowell is a weapon Shane Beamer and Satterfield need offensively.
But his talent is just one piece of the puzzle. He’s one of the more energetic guys on the team. His teammates say he has the ability to uplift the entire team.
“He’s like a little Pikachu man, he’s fast and brings a lot to the team,” Josh Vann said. “He’s smart and dynamic. Size doesn’t really matter when it comes to Juju.”
