Gamecocks Football 2012: 22 positions 22 days – Running Back

Garnet and Cocky has already gone through the offensive and defensive lines, wide receivers, tight ends, linebackers and the secondary for our 22 positions 22 days series. Now, as we get closer to Gamecocks Football in 2012, it’s time to look at possibly the strongest single position on the roster: Running back.

The group is headlined by Heisman candidate, Marcus Lattimore.

He’s coming off knee surgery, but everyone who’s seen him in practice this summer says #21 looks as strong as he ever has.

I’m not going to spend a ton of time on him, since Gamecocks fans know what he’s capable of, but here are his stats from the past two seasons.

2015 yards rushing, 27 rushing TDs, 594 yards receiving, three receiving TDs. Beast mode.

The question I’ve heard the most about the running back spot this year is “what will the coaches do about Brandon Wilds and Kenny Miles.”

After Lattimore went down last year, Wilds became the primary RB, and Kenny Miles saw a significant increase in playing time as well.

Wilds rushed for 486 yards and three TDs on 107 carries, while Miles had 54 carries for 204 yards and a TD.

Miles is a senior, and is listed as the team’s second RB. Wilds is right behind him.

As much as I love Miles (I’ve had class with him and met him outside of school a few times. Good guy), I think Wilds is the better option to back up Lattimore, and I believe at season’s end he’ll have more carries and more yards than Miles.

Shon Carson, who was injured very early on in the 2011 season, is a red-shirt freshman and listed fourth on the depth chart.

Rivals rated him as a three star prospect and the nation’s 28th best running back in his class. He chose the Gamecocks over Clemson, Auburn, Florida State and Tennessee, among others.

RBs won’t be the only players carrying the ball out of the backfield, though.

Wide receiver Damier Byrd will see plenty of touches off the “jet sweep” play, from which he gained 73 yards rushing on 10 carries last season. Look for those numbers to increase this season, as he becomes a better pass-catcher, which will keep his defenders on their toes when he’s in motion.

Bruce Ellington will still run plenty of wildcat this year. Last season, Ellington ran for 106 yards on 17 carries and scored a thrilling 63 yard touchdown out of the backfield. He also threw for 27 yards on three-of-four passing in the wildcat.

Last year, SC’s rushing attack kept them in a ton of games when their aerial attack failed. This year it will be part of a two-headed monster opponents will find hard to stop.