Isaiah Augustave: A Springboard Season Awaits in Columbia
As the 2025 college football season looms, the South Carolina Gamecocks are riding a wave of optimism. With big expectations—including hopes of their first-ever College Football Playoff berth—some newcomers will need to deliver in a big way.
A Transfer-Hopping Journey to SEC Relevance
Augustave’s path to Columbia has been full of twists. The Naples, Florida native began his collegiate career at Arkansas, where he appeared in 11 games as a true freshman in 2023, accumulating 202 rushing yards and one touchdown on just 35 carries. He also recorded his maiden 100‑yard game, rushing for 101 yards against FIU. Seeking more opportunity, he entered the transfer portal in spring 2024.
He landed at Colorado under Deion Sanders in 2024, where increased volume paid off. Augustave led the Buffaloes with 394 rushing yards and four touchdowns on 85 carries, and added 11 receptions for 62 yards. His season high came with 22 carries for 91 yards and a touchdown against Cincinnati, earning Big 12 Newcomer of the Week honors
In a last-minute twist, after initially committing to Virginia, Augustave re-opened his recruitment and ultimately signed with South Carolina in June 2025. At 6’2″, 210 pounds, he provides an SEC-tested option in a Gamecock backfield undergoing transition.
Why He Has the Most to Prove
1. Opportunity Amidst Uncertainty
South Carolina expected a big offseason addition in Rahsul Faison, a JUCO and Utah State transfer whose waiver for extended eligibility remains unresolved. If Faison is declared ineligible, Augustave could become the feature back in a high-expectation Gamecock offense
2. Stepping into Big Shoes
The attrition of senior Raheim “Rocket” Sanders, who departed for the NFL after rushing for 881 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2024, leaves a leadership and production void. Also gone: Juju McDowell, who added over 600 rushing yards the past two seasons. Now, Augustave must step up in a crowded yet veteran-laced backfield
3. Matching Potential to Expectations
Despite steady numbers at Arkansas and Colorado, Augustave hasn’t yet delivered a high-usage, breakout campaign. At South Carolina, with expectations calibrated to compete for the playoffs, he will need to translate flashes of ability into consistency to meet national scrutiny
Backfield Competition in Columbia
Head coach Shane Beamer has built significant depth at running back. The room includes:
- Oscar Adaway III, a seasoned seventh-year transfer who posted 295 yards and three touchdowns on 77 carries in 2024, plus 145 receiving yards
- Jawarn Howell, redshirt sophomore with promise after 123 yards and two scores on limited carries in 2024.
- Matthew Fuller, another redshirt who flashed in early tests and practices as a potential rotational piece
Should Faison—if granted waiver—become available, he would add to the competition, creating one of the SEC’s deeper, more versatile committees. But with eligibility in limbo, the burden of production may fall squarely on Augustave’s shoulders
Strengths & Skills to Lean On
Augustave brings an appealing combination of vision, agility, and maturity:
- Vision & Patience: He’s drawn praise from analysts for his running patience and ability to follow blocks before bursting into traffic.
- Agility & Speed: At Colorado, he demonstrated an ability to make defenders miss in space and generate big plays, including a career-long 37-yard touchdown run against Utah
Redditer sentiment echoed that appreciation:
“He is patient and follows blocks very well, explodes when it’s time. Great vision and great acceleration.”
However, some warn he’s not the same type as the bruising Sanders—Augustave is viewed more as a space runner than a power back
Key Challenges Ahead
- Building Consistency: Augustave has yet to sustain a lead role. Translating his past production into consistent performance against SEC competition will be crucial.
- Earning Trust: Chemistry with the offensive line and mastery of South Carolina’s system must come quickly in summer and fall camp.
- Handling Expectations: With playoff aspirations and national attention, pressure will mount. Augustave must elevate his game accordingly.
2025 Outlook: Can He Rise?
If Faison remains ineligible, and with Sanders and McDowell gone, Augustave may enter the season as South Carolina’s most experienced running back. A strong preseason coupled with opportunities could see him become the workhorse—until now, the most carries he had in a season was 85 in Boulder.
CBS Sports has already singled him out as one of college football’s “players with the most to prove in 2025,” reflecting the stakes at play. If he thrives, he could anchor South Carolina’s rushing attack, helping them contend atop the SEC. If not, the team will lean heavily on those around him.
Final Thoughts
Isaiah Augustave’s journey—Arkansas to Colorado to South Carolina—has prepared him for his most pivotal role yet. In Columbia, he enters a crowded but promising backfield at a program on the rise. With national spotlight, playoff aspirations, and unmet potential on the line, Augustave has both the opportunity and the burden of proving himself in 2025. If he can harness his skill set and seize the chance, his name may become central to the Gamecocks’ push into uncharted territory.
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