South Carolina Football has dipped into the Big Ten again, landing Penn State transfer running back Jabree Coleman to bolster the backfield. After a disappointing 4-8 season, it's a move that Shane Beamer and the coaching staff desperately needed. Coleman will arrive in Columbia with four years of eligibility remaining after he redshirted in Happy Valley. That amount of eligibility will give the Gamecocks a long-time piece in new offensive coordinator Kendal Briles' system.
From Imhotep to Penn state
Coleman was one of the most productive running backs in Pennsylvania high school football history during his time at Imhotep Charter in Philadelphia. A four-year letterman and two-year team captain, Coleman rushed for 1,135 yards and 15 touchdowns as a senior and 1,610 yards with 28 rushing scores as a junior. Nationally, recruiting services viewed Coleman as a blue-chip prospect, with multiple outlets rating him as a four-star and one of the top running backs and top overall players in the state of Pennsylvania.
New Gamecock running backs coach, formerly at Penn State, Stan Drayton originally recruited Coleman and redshirted him last season. Coleman picked Penn State over North Carolina, Pitt, and Rutgers, though South Carolina was firmly in the mix during his recruitment and hosted him for an official visit in June 2023. He becomes the second running back added via the transfer portal by the Gamecocks, who now sit at 17 total newcomers in their incoming transfer class.
Why Coleman Fits What South Carolina Needs
Coleman did not record any game action in 2025 at Penn State, preserving his redshirt year, but his physical profile fit exactly what the Gamecocks have been missing. At around 6-foot and 209 pounds, he brings a blend of power and acceleration that should translate well in the SEC, especially behind an offensive line that is looking to retool its identity.
Adding a running back who can stay on the field for all three downs gives new OC Kendal Briles the flexibility to lean into inside zone, gap-scheme runs, and creative screen packages that stress defenses.
Coleman becomes the second transfer running back to join the Gamecocks this cycle, after former Ohio State back Sam Dixon. He will compete for carries with returners Matt Fuller, Jawarn Howell, and Isaiah Augustave, giving the running back room legitimate depth and varied skill sets for the first time in several seasons.