South Carolina Football: ICYMI, the Gamecocks picked up two HUGE commits to flip running back room, add 5th pledge

Late last night, South Carolina football coach Shane Beamer was still working. The Gamecock headman dropped another #WelcomeHome message, Carolina’s 4th commitment teaser since Sunday evening.

Up to that point, just two players had announced their transfer intentions publicly.

4-star junior college transfer defensive tackle Jerome Simmons was first. The big man from Bamberg, South Carolina will have two more years of eligibility and will look to compete for playing time with veteran tackles TJ Sanders, Tonka Hemingway, Boogie Huntley, and Nick Barrett.

The second commitment was from speedy wide receiver Jared Brown. The Coastal Carolina defection also will have two more years of eligibility and most likely will slide right into a starting role on the outside of the Gamecock offense. He could get some work in the slot, as well, and his experience carrying the football in the run game will allow offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains plenty of gadget options with his newest weapon.

Shortly after the fourth #WelcomeHome was teased, the identity of the 3rd commitment was revealed. According to a report from SportsTalk’s Phil Korblut, North Texas transfer Oscar Adaway will be joining the South Carolina football running back room. The big back has just over 2000 yards of offense in his career and will have two years left to play if he gets a medical redshirt waiver.

The fourth commitment decided to let Gamecock Nation get a full night of sleep before announcing, but according to reports from On3’s Pete Nakos, running back Rocket Sanders will be joining the South Carolina football program. The Arkansas transfer missed much of 2023 with injury but was one of the top backs in the country in 2022, accumulating over 1700 yards of offense and 12 touchdowns.

The commitments of Adaway and Sanders from Tuesday night completely flip the Gamecock running back room. Last year's ball-carrier situation was far from ideal, and Carolina lost its top two rushers, yet, thanks to the transfer portal, South Carolina football fans have hope of seeing their team run the ball better in 2024.

Then, on Wednesday, just before lunchtime, Beamer dropped a 5th #WelcomeHome commitment teaser, complete with #AboveAllEl23. No news has emerged as to who the fifth pledge could be (though Beamer's use of the South Carolina state flag could mean it is a Palmetto State native), but there have been plenty of big-time players hanging around the South Carolina football program in recent days.

Since this past weekend, the Gamecocks have had a lot of talent on campus, and the only remaining non-committed players who have visited Columbia in recent days are defensive linemen LT and Micaiah Overton (Texas A&M), wide receiver and SC native Jayden McGowan (Vanderbilt), quarterback AJ Swann (Vanderbilt), running back Elijah Green (North Carolina), running back Jawarn Howell (South Carolina State), defensive back Gerald Kilgore (Tennessee Tech), and defensive tackle DeAndre Jules (Pittsburgh).

Several other players are expected to be on campus over the next week, so the good news around the South Carolina football program might not be done just yet.