Live from South Carolina: Shula Prepares Gamecocks Offense Without Rocket Sanders for Citrus Bowl
Mike Shula, now officially South Carolina’s full-time offensive coordinator after serving as a senior offensive assistant in 2024, is gearing up to lead the Gamecocks’ offense against Illinois in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl. However, the team faces a significant challenge with the absence of their star running back, Rocket Sanders, who has declared for the 2025 NFL Draft.
Rocket Sanders Declares for NFL Draft, Will Miss Bowl Game
Sanders, a dominant force for the Gamecocks this season, announced his decision to skip the bowl game to prepare for the draft and avoid injury risks. The Arkansas transfer led South Carolina in every rushing category, amassing 881 yards on 183 carries and 11 touchdowns in 2024.
Shula addressed the void Sanders leaves in the lineup, explaining how the team plans to handle the running back position without their star.
“Yeah, I think it’s a little bit by committee,” Shula said. “But also, I’ll leave that a little bit into the hands of Coach Marquel Blackwell, our running back coach. He’s got a good feel for that. When you have guys that can come in and contribute, more than one guy, sometimes you go with the hot hand and see how that’s going.”
Who Steps Up in Sanders’ Absence?
With Sanders out, the Gamecocks will rely on a combination of players to fill the gap. Among the options:
- Oscar Adaway III, the only other back with more than 200 rushing yards this season.
- LaNorris Sellers, the dual-threat quarterback who rushed for 655 yards and 7 touchdowns in 2024.
- Additional running backs, including Jawarn Howell, Juju McDowell, Bradley Dunn, and Matthew Fuller, could also see opportunities.
Shula emphasized the importance of flexibility in the game plan.
“It’ll be a feel thing,” he said. “We’ll talk about it probably more so in between drives as we go. There might be certain plays we have one guy do that we would ask only him to do, not the other guy. A little bit of a combination of all those things.”
Game Day Details
The Gamecocks’ offense, under Shula’s direction, will look to adjust and compete without their star rusher when they face No. 20 Illinois. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. ET on December 31 in the Citrus Bowl. All eyes will be on South Carolina’s backfield to see who emerges as the hot hand in Sanders’ absence.
