With the December 2025 hiring of Stan Drayton as the new running backs coach for South Carolina, as well as a few new transfers, the Gamecocks’ running back room will look a lot different this upcoming season.
Among the new additions is transfer redshirt sophomore Sam Dixon, who committed to South Carolina on Jan. 9. Dixon joins the Gamecocks after having previously played for the Ohio State Buckeyes for two years, including a redshirt during his first year. With three years of eligibility left, Dixon has 10 career carries for 62 yards and one rushing touchdown.
He joins South Carolina’s running back room alongside returning redshirt juniors Isaiah Augustave and Jawarn Howell and redshirt sophomores Matt Fuller and Neil Salvage III. Redshirt sophomore Texas transfer Christian Clark and redshirt freshman Penn State transfer Jabree Coleman also join Dixon as new running backs, officially bringing the total number to seven.
While the large number of running backs might seem like a lot, it marks more depth among the running back room, a stark difference compared to the past couple of seasons, according to head coach Shane Beamer.
“We liked the four running backs we have. We’re really fired up about those guys, but we knew we couldn’t go into a football season with only four total running backs on the team,” Beamer said. “It's a position that has a lot of wear and tear, so we needed to get some bodies in here. But to say that we’d be able to get some bodies in here from Texas, Ohio State and Penn State, that’s something that excites me without a doubt.”
For Dixon, his journey from Ohio State to South Carolina came due to both an indirect and direct link with Drayton. He recruited Dixon out of high school as a three-star player and knew of the fact that he entered the transfer portal for the 2026 season. At the same time, Drayton still had contacts at Ohio State from his time spent coaching there from 2011-2014.
“(Drayton) didn’t coach Sam at Ohio State but had some connections from coaching Ezekiel Elliot at Ohio State. And that was our connection with Sam,” Beamer said.
Drayton had previously recruited Elliott to play at Ohio State, helping him develop his talent and skill as a running back that eventually led to the Buckeyes winning the national championship in 2014.
Drayton's reputation as a position coach was solidified because of the Buckeyes' previous success. He continued to mentor up-and-coming running backs and continued to gain coaching experience both in the collegiate and professional leagues. With his past in Columbus and his nationwide connections as a veteran position coach, Drayton was able to get Dixon to become a part of the Gamecock family.
With many players to choose from and the departure of former running back Rahsul Faison, the question of who will carry the ball is up for debate.
However, as long as strong teamwork is displayed among the team and good chemistry remains among the running backs, Dixon says that is enough.
“I feel like teamwork is very important on what you’re trying to accomplish as a football team. I feel like for me, you want that kind of bond on the team. You want that kind of structure,” Dixon said. "(The atmosphere) is very important because you don’t want to be out there with somebody you don’t know.”
While most of his time might be spent developing teamwork and building relationships with his fellow teammates, Dixon doesn’t just see himself as a part of the running backs squad but as a part of special teams too.
“I haven’t been in contact with the other running backs, but I know for (Drayton), he wants us to be on the third-down back end to get us on special teams. He didn’t bring me and the other running backs here just to run the ball. He wants us to be on special teams,” Dixon said.
Either way, the addition of not only Dixon, but Clark and Coleman as well, will help light up the spark that is the running back room.
“I like what we’ve done in that room. Got the four that we bring back, which we have high expectations for, and then we’ve added three in there in addition to it that will make us better running and out of the back field from a pass-game standpoint,” Beamer said.