With 22 days until South Carolina football kicks off 2025 season, a look back at No. 22, Harold Green

South Carolina football will take the field for the first time in the 2025 season on August 31st when the Gamecocks take on the Virginia Tech Hokies in Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. That means kickoff is just 22 days away.

No. 22 is a commonly-worn jersey in the football world. As such, several really good Gamecocks have elected to wear it during their careers. However, none stand quite as prominently in the South Carolina football hierarchy as Harold Green. One of the best running backs ever to play in Columbia, Green and his No. 22 spent four years wowing fans in Williams-Brice Stadium.

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Despite playing in an offense that really liked to throw the ball (in an era in which it was very uncommon, South Carolina called more pass plays than run plays in Green’s best season), the Palmetto State native racked up enough rushing yards to rank third on the Gamecocks’ all-time rushing list. He is tied with George Rogers for the second-most touchdowns on the ground (31). He is also tied with Rogers (33) for the second-most touchdowns from scrimmage.

In 1986, the Gamecocks utilized some of their elite wide receiver talent (like new Pro Football Hall of Famer Sterling Sharpe) in the run game as wing backs. However, when Carolina needed to run the ball the old-fashioned way, the big, bruising freshman Green was the man for the job. He beat out seniors Anthony Smith and Raynard Brown for the most carries on the team.

By the time his sophomore year came around, Green turned into a star. He rushed for over 1000 yards in 1987 and set a then-record with 15 touchdowns. The 1988 season was a struggle for the Gamecocks offensively, but Green managed to lead the team in rushing again, this time also pacing the offense in receptions, too. He nearly crossed the 1000-yard threshold as a senior in ’89, but Green missed a game with an ankle injury. Even so, he became one of just seven players to lead USC in rushing for three seasons. Of those players, he is one of just three who also led the team in rushing and receptions.

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Following his stellar career in garnet and black, the Cincinnati Bengals drafted Green in 1990. The second-round pick made a Pro Bowl in his third year, rushing for nearly 1200 yards for the Bengals. He led the team in yards on the ground four times before eventually giving way to All-Pros Garrison Hearst and Corey Dillon. Ironically, fellow Gamecock running back Brandon Bennett joined Cincinnati shortly after his departure. During his time in the NFL, Green logged over 6000 yards of offense.

In 2002, the University of South Carolina Lettermen’s Hall of Fame inducted Green. In 2023, he earned a spot in the South Carolina Football Hall of Fame, as well.

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