South Carolina football: Most underrated players of the decade
By Jacob Elsey
NO. 3 BRANDON WILDS
Wilds began his career as a fifth-string running back from Blythewood, but he wouldn’t stay buried on the depth chart for long. As a freshman, he was called upon following the season ending knee injury to Marcus Lattimore, scoring three touchdowns and running for 486 yards.
After sitting out the 2012 season, Wilds returned, where he and Mike Davis formed one of the better tailback tandems in the SEC. He’d help the Gamecocks take down Clemson in 2013, catching a touchdown pass from wide receiver Pharoh Cooper. With Davis departing in 2014, Wilds would take the reins as a senior, leading the Gamecocks in rushing.
For his career, Wilds totaled 1,844 rushing yards, 540 receiving yards, and 16 total touchdowns. He never received quite the praise of 1,000 rushers Mike Davis and Marcus Lattimore, but he was workhorse that was a pivotal piece of the Carolina offense.