South Carolina football's running back room has been shifting ahead of the 2025-26 season, but graduate student running back Oscar Adaway lll has been one consistent piece.
During the offseason, the Gamecocks used the portal to gather different targets , one including graduate student running back Rahsul Faison from Utah State. Even though Faison faced eligibility issues ahead of the season's start, he was granted another year, while Adaway remained the starting running back on the depth chart.
Adaway started for the last two games against Virginia Tech and South Carolina State and totaled 21 carries for 80 yards and a touchdown.
Adaway is no stranger to the game of football. He is in his seventh and final year of his collegiate football career, yet it’s his second season with the Gamecocks. Joining the team in January 2024, he appeared in every game last season. He was second-team behind former Gamecock running back Rahiem “Rocket” Sanders.
Though it may be Adaway's last season with eligibility, he intends to approach it with the same mindset of wanting to improve with every step.
Third on the team in rushing behind Sanders and redshirt sophomore quarterback LaNorris Sellers, he finished last season with 77 carries for 295 yards, along with three touchdowns. He was also a target for Sellers, as he had 15 targets for 145 yards receiving.
South Carolina offensive coordinator Mike Shula, talked about his consistency through the spring as well as his versatility.
“(Adaway) has probably been the most consistent throughout, going back to day one of spring ball,” Shula said. “He’s got a very lunch pail mentality of being that steady force, whether it’s running the football, catching it or pass protection.”
As this is Adaway's seventh year, he is able to bring his experience and leadership to not only the running back room, but the entire team as well.
“I chose this year to lead by experience because I have done it all, I have been injured, I've been with winning teams, sorry teams, and mid-average teams, so experience is going to go far,” Adaway said.
At the beginning of 2025, Adaway was named chair of the SEC Football Leadership Council for the 25-26 season. With this role, he is able to advocate and communicate with the committee office with concerns or issues related to student-athletes. He was chosen by his peers and will act as an officer in the SEC Leadership Council. His vice chair is Vanderbilt linebacker Bryan Longwell who has been on the chair for a second year in row.
Head coach Shane Beamer spoke on the running back's experience throughout his career and his leadership role with the Gamecocks.
“He is a wise, old soul. He’s an older guy that has seen it all and has worked really hard,” Beamer said. “(He’s a) really good football player who has gotten better in his last year of college football and has great leadership skills.”
Adaway started his collegiate career at the University of North Texas in 2019, which he redshirted. As a redshirt sophomore, in 2021, he suffered an ACL injury in fall camp ultimately missing that entire season. Through his five years at North Texas, he finished out with almost 2,000 yards rushing and 14 touchdowns.
Before he was recruited to South Carolina, he was no stranger to the program. He was first introduced to the program through a social media post, recreating a scene from the show "The Office".
“I was at North Texas at the time, and I had seen that,” said Adaway. “I was on my way to class, and I had seen it, and I was like, 'That's a head coach I would love to play for right there.'”
It is not all just business with the running back when he is on the field. During the first game of the season, Adaway found himself enjoying his time on the field with his teammates.
“It's a grin on my face the whole time. It's fun playing with these guys. I love being out there with them,” Adaway said.
What's next?
Adaway and the Gamecocks will play their first SEC opponent of the season, the Vanderbilt Commodores on Saturday, Sept. 13, at 7:45 p.m. on SEC Network.