South Carolina Football’s GOAT Series: Top-15 Greatest Running Backs of All-Time
By Kevin Miller
South Carolina Football’s No. 15 and No. 14 Running Backs of All-Time:
Clarence Williams and Kevin Long
Ron Bass and Clarence Williams vs Georgia Tech 1976 with Kevin Long (32) blocking pic.twitter.com/3HCBv7cF3k
— Gamecock History (@HistoryAthletic) July 14, 2022
A dynamic rushing duo, Kevin Long (1974-1976) and Clarence Williams (1974-1976) could not be mentioned separately. Totaling almost equal career statistics (445 carries for 2369 yards for Long and 440 carries for 2311 yards for Williams), the running back tandem each gained over 1000 yards on the ground in 1975 despite ceding carries to their star quarterback Jeff Grantz, as well.
They were the first Carolina backs to reach the 1000-yard mark in a season. Long played more fullback than running back for the Gamecocks but carried the ball as often as a typical tailback would. When he didn’t get the ball, he was usually blocking for Williams, Grantz, or 1976 quarterback Ron Bass. Both Long and Williams were drafted in the 1977 NFL Draft.