South Carolina Football: Gamecocks in final group for big-time running back from Georgia
By Kevin Miller
South Carolina football is in need of running backs. On the 2023 roster, only one scholarship running back is an underclassman, and that is true freshman DJay Braswell. The Gamecocks only have one back committed in the class of 2024 (4-star Matthew Fuller), but they are expected to take at least one more before the recruiting cycle ends.
Barring an unforeseen influx of ball carriers over the next year, in the class of 2025, South Carolina football should be expected to take multiple backs again. One of the top players on the Gamecocks’ recruiting board at the position in next year’s class is Georgia running back Justin Baker.
Some of South Carolina football’s best-ever running backs were Georgia natives. George Rogers, Stanley Pritchett, Mike Davis, and Kevin Harris were all from the Peach State. Current Carolina back Juju McDowell and incoming freshman Matthew Fuller are also from South Carolina’s neighbor to the west.
Baker has visited Columbia multiple times over the last year, and the Buford, Georgia native just released a top-6 list that includes South Carolina football.
Top 6❗️Big thanks to everyone who’s helped me get to this point! @buford_football @Coach_Davis22 @CoachCondon16 @CoachApp35 @JeremyO_Johnson @adamgorney @lukewinstel @Rivals @On3Recruits @RustyMansell_ @ErikRichardsUSA @28_beckwith @SWiltfong247 pic.twitter.com/TGdgGRISGv
— Justin Nkosi Baker (@jbaker1244) July 4, 2023
Baker’s list includes South Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, Ole Miss, NC State, and Michigan.
The Gamecock target is rated as a 4-star recruit by Rivals and is a 3-star according to both On3 and 247Sports (ESPN has not yet ranked most of the ’25 class). His ranking on On3 could move up to 4-stars soon as he is a top-300 prospect in the class accoring to their rankings.
Listed at 5’9″ and 200 pounds, Baker is tough to bring down. In his first two years of high school football, he has displayed a tremendous ability to run through weak tackle attemps as he is strong and has good body control. Baker does not have top-end speed that rivals the elite of the elite, but he accelerates well and is fast enough that he rarely gets caught from behind.
When he runs on film, he stands out as his physical running style often moves defenders backward as he continues to move forward. His feet never stop moving, and he uses his off-arm well as a weapon to throw off would-be tacklers.
Baker also flashed some good traits as an outside linebacker on film.
You can watch some of his film here.