South Carolina Football: The transfer portal is opening; what positions do the Gamecocks need to hit hardest?
By Kevin Miller
South Carolina Football Transfer Portal Needs:
Running Back
South Carolina football nailed at least one transfer portal addition last offseason when they added former Newberry running back Mario Anderson. Anderson had over 850 yards of offense in 9 starts and provided a modicum of life to a running game that was dead without him.
The big year for #24 could lead to him taking his chances in the NFL this spring. He has received some mild NFL Draft buzz lately, so he has a decision to make regarding his future.
If Anderson leaves, the Gamecocks absolutely will need to bring in a transfer portal running back for next year. Current freshman Djay Braswell, rising senior scatback Juju McDowell, and incoming freshman Matthew Fuller would be the only scholarship backs on the roster if Anderson left and USC doesn’t add another freshman in the 2024 recruiting class (they are in on 4-star Daniel Hill).
If Anderson stays and the Gamecocks pick up a commitment from Hill, Carolina probably could get away without adding a transfer. However, if the Gamecocks lose Anderson, they won’t have any experienced every-down back on the roster. If USC keeps Anderson but only adds one freshman, another veteran back transfer portal addition would help, too.
As of now, there has been solid evidence either way about Mario Anderson’s NFL decision-making, but South Carolina football fans will be anxiously awaiting his announcement this winter and, subsequently, any transfer portal rumors that may surface about the Gamecocks’ pursuit of a replacement back.