Gamecock running backs are more than prepared to step up in Fuller's absence

Nov. 5—COLUMBIA — There wasn’t time to feel bad. Every player on South Carolina’s roster has preached “next man up” every time they’re asked what they would do if somebody goes down, and Saturday was the time to prove it.

Matt Fuller stayed on the ground, pointing to his left ankle, and after some trips to the medical tent and back to the sideline, he went to the locker room and didn’t return. By halftime he was out of the game for good, by endgame he was set for surgery on Sunday morning.

The Gamecocks’ other backs, already missing Jawarn Howell to his own slight injury, didn’t huddle up, give the secret handshake and go to work. There wasn’t a speech about playing for the fallen brother, either.

Jabree Coleman, Christian Clark and Isaiah Augustave just did what they’ve been training to do all along. They became the next men up.

Coleman pushing through contact, grinding the hydraulic pistons he calls legs further into the damp turf at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Augustave, spinning his way past defenders so well that he was informally anointed “CrazyLegs” in the pressbox. Clark, not as much production as the others but he did score a touchdown when Kendal Briles sent in the jumbo package and picked him as the carrier.

“I feel like we have five real SEC running backs,” Briles said in the preseason. “I feel really comfortable with really anybody taking the field.”

The immediate question was about Fuller. Beamer said after the game that the injury was probably season-ending but had some slightly better news on Tuesday.

“And he won’t be out long. Hopefully, he’ll be back before the season is over,” Beamer said. “If we can get to the postseason, and (we) can make that happen with another win.”

Until then …

“Hearing about Matt was definitely sad. He’s our brother. We hate to see that happen to him. But for the running backs, like I said before, I feel like we have five SEC-caliber running backs that can all start,” Coleman said. “We’re going to keep our production the way it was, and we’re going to do what we have to do. We’re going to have Matt’s back 100 percent.”

Coleman, likely to be the top back against Texas A&M on Saturday, gained 62 yards on 13 carries at Oklahoma. Augustave had six for 31 while Clark had six for four and the TD. Each caught two passes from LaNorris Sellers as well.

“(Augustave is) more of a slasher. He’s a very powerful guy,” Briles said. “Jabree’s a little smoother in and out of transitions and is a little edgier with his cuts. Not as smooth, but he’s very, very powerful.”

Howell, Beamer said, could have played at Oklahoma but it was determined that one more week would have him at top form, instead of playing him at less than. The Gamecocks fully expect him back this week.

The healthy four visited Fuller in the hospital on Monday evening, then Fuller was back in the building on Tuesday watching film, attending meetings and being a spectator at practice. The quartet practiced and let everyone know there would be no dropoff.

“I don’t want to let the first guy get me down. I want to go do what I can do for my team to help us get more to help us win,” Coleman said. “Our line will get us three to four yards by themselves before we even get touched, so getting more after that, that’s up to the running back, and that’s what we take pride in.”

As for dividing the carries, or taking less if Fuller comes back, whatever.

“We’re here to help our team whenever we need. If that’s us blocking, if that’s us running the ball, scoring touchdowns, whatever we need to do for the team, we will do that,” Coleman said. “So as long as we win, I’m fine, basically. I’ll be happy with that.”

Follow David Cloninger on Twitter at @DCPandC

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