South Carolina finally got the news it’s been waiting months to hear — running back Rahsul Faison is cleared to play for the Gamecocks in 2025.
After a long and frustrating process, the NCAA granted Faison the waiver he needed to suit up this fall, multiple outlets confirmed Monday. CBS Sports first reported the decision.
Faison, who transferred to South Carolina from Utah State in January, arrived as one of the top running backs in the transfer portal. From the start, it was known he would need NCAA clearance, but many believed it would be a formality under the “Pavia Rule.” That rule accounts for players who were out of football for multiple years after high school — in Faison’s case, three full seasons — before eventually restarting their careers.
Still, the wait dragged on. Head coach Shane Beamer admitted in May that he was “growing frustrated” with the lack of a ruling. Just days later, Faison turned to well-known NIL attorney Darren Heitner to help push the case forward.
The NCAA eventually allowed him to practice this fall while the appeal was pending — and now, the final approval is in.
For Beamer and the Gamecocks, the timing couldn’t be better. South Carolina is looking to replace last year’s star rusher, Rocket Sanders, and Faison is seen as the type of explosive playmaker who can step into that role immediately.
“We were certainly looking for a guy to replace Rocket,” Beamer said earlier this offseason on Always College Football. “Somebody that had that home run ability. That can take an eight-yard gain or a run that’s blocked for five yards and can turn it into an explosive run. That’s what we saw when we watched him. I think he’s got great vision. He’s got great balance. He can make people miss, but he can also run you over.”
At Utah State, Faison rushed for 1,845 yards and 13 touchdowns on 316 carries across two seasons. Ranked the No. 68 overall transfer and the No. 5 running back in the portal, he brings both experience and explosiveness to Columbia.
The Pottsgrove, Pennsylvania native originally graduated high school in 2019 but did not play from 2019–2021. He reignited his career at Snow College in 2022 before breaking out with the Aggies.
Since arriving in Columbia, Faison says the transition has been smooth.
“Honestly, I’ve been loving every bit of it,” he told GamecockCentral in March. “Being a new guy, obviously meeting all the guys and building relationships on and off the field. And then obviously the workout part and the football part have been great. So I’ve been having a great time.”
With Faison cleared, South Carolina’s running back room looks deep and versatile.
Beamer highlighted Oscar Adaway’s return, as well as young talents Matthew Fuller and Jawarn Howell, alongside veteran Bradley Dunn.
South Carolina opens its 2025 season on Aug. 31 in Atlanta against Virginia Tech — a matchup that already carries plenty of storylines.
For Faison, it’s all about proving himself on the biggest stage.
“I just want to show everybody why I’m here and who I am as a player,” he said. “What I did at Utah State doesn’t mean anything now. It’s a new year, and nobody cares about the past. I just want to prove that I’m here for a reason, for sure.”
