South Carolina expecting Dontavius Braswell to play early
South Carolina doesn’t have the depth it probably wants right now at running back, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t talent coming into the program like freshman Dontavius Braswell.
The Gamecocks currently only have four scholarship running backs on the roster for the fall, which means there might be ample opportunity for one of the more highly-rated players in the class to have a role.
That would be the freshman Braswell, who Shane Beamer said will also have a role next season offensively.
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“He’s going to have to play just with our depth right now at the position. You’d love to have four or five running backs you feel good about,” Beamer said Wednesday. “Those guys are going to play special teams and it’s a position that gets a lot of wear and tear. We’ve got to get him ready to play and expect him to play.”
Braswell was a big get for South Carolina at the time, seemingly on the outside looking in after releasing his final five before swooping in and landing the Georgia native’s commitment.
On3 has him as the eighth-higest rated recruit in the Gamecocks’ 2023 class in its rankings and ninth-highest when going by the Industry Ranking. Among high school players in the class he’s the seventh-best by On3’s ranking and eighth by the Industry Ranking.
The only offensive players ranked ahead of him in the class by On3’s rankings are Nyck Harbor (21), LaNorris Sellers (95), Markee Anderson (161) and also Tosin Babalade (177).
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On3 has him as the No. 228 player in the class and the No. 14 running back. Braswell also checks in at No. 246 in the Industry Ranking and the 15th-best running back. Both have him as a four-star prospect.
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Braswell averaged 6.8 yards per carry for a state title team last season and was a 1,000-yard rusher as a junior.
“He comes from a good program. He played for a great running back in Robert Edwards, the old Georgia running back. Robert was his high school coach. Djay is just kind of a workhorse if you will. He did everything for his team and is a good, solid football player. We’re optimistic he’ll be able to help us this season.”
His position coach at South Carolina, Montario Hardesty, also likes what Braswell could bring to the table in his first season.
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That, though, will be determined by what he can do this summer when he enrolls at South Carolina. Running back is one of the easier positions for freshmen to make an immediate impact. And Braswell could be a key candidate to play a ton for South Carolina.
“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,” Hardesty said. “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.”
