Shane Beamer 'not concerned about the talent level' in running back room

Shane Beamer has been around his fair share of running back rooms–some really good ones to boot–during his career.

He was in Athens with a quartet of NFL backs on the roster and saw Georgia need all four over the course of that season. This is why as the Gamecocks prepare for the 2023 season, there are some concerns about the depth in the room. 

But there’s no concern on Beamer’s end about the talent.

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“I was concerned about the depth at the running back position. I told our running backs this: I’m not concerned about the talent level. We have plenty of good backs. That’s a wear-and-tear position. You need more than one or two running backs to get through a season,” Beamer said at SEC Media Days.

“Those guys, too, are typically core special teams players for us as well: returning kicks, covering kicks, you name it…So the depth concerns me. I like where the group is. It’s a good group of guys. Now the key is going to be continuing to get them better and continuing to stay healthy.”

The Gamecocks went into spring with just two scholarship players, ultimately moving Dakereon Joyner to running back in an effort to just have enough bodies in the room.

It lent itself to positive results and the Gamecocks seem to like what he brings to the table there. 

“I have total belief in those guys. DK, you know how he is: gratitude. He’s a great leader and he’s got the whole package,” Spencer Rattler said. “He’s been a receiver, been a quarterback. And he’s been through the fire. I have complete trust in him. He’s looking good right now.”

Joyner’s been somewhat of a journeyman over his South Carolina career, willing to play nearly any and every position over the last four seasons. South Carolina’s started him at quarterback, wide receiver and potentially running back now while being a key cog on special teams.

That level of dedication doesn’t go unnoticed by his teammates. Joyner also went out and added 13 pounds over the offseason, listed at 229 heading into preseason camp. 

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“Definitely,” Rattler said about Joyner’s ability to play running back. “We have trust in him 100 percent.” 

Juju McDowell and Mario Anderson–the two backs who were on the roster in the spring–join Joyner in that room.

McDowell, based on age and circumstance, is the senior-most member of this group in terms of South Carolina experience. The rising junior has 467 yards on 114 career attempts with four scores. 

Anderson, though, comes over via the portal after a prolific season at Newberry where he rushed for 3,301 yards and 35 touchdowns over three seasons. 

Last year, he was a first-team All-American with a school-record 1,560 yards (7.4 yards per rush) with 19 touchdowns. The 5-foot-9, 208-pounder is certainly someone who could chisel out a role in this backfield. 

“Juju McDowell, you know about him. He’s a quick guy, an explosive player,” Rattler said. “Then Mario Anderson, you haven’t seen any of him yet but he’s a bowling ball. He’s a bulldozer. He’ll be another compliment to our offense for sure.” 

The Gamecocks also signed four-star back Djay Braswell, who checked in at No. 229 in the On3 rankings for the 2023 class. 

Braswell enrolled over the summer and he’ll also likely have to log snaps as a freshman this season.

“To me, every time I watch him he gets better and better. He has really good size and speed for the position. He has great growth potential. He’s a kick returner,” Montario Hardesty said in the spring.

“He’s a natural runner, fast and can make the first guy miss. I’m impressed with him, man. To me, he’s going to continue to grow. We’ll see what happens when we get him in here in June and start competing with him.”

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