Veteran Oscar Adaway III Poised to Lead South Carolina’s Young Backfield in 2025
South Carolina’s running back room enters the 2025 season with more questions than answers — and one steadying presence: Oscar Adaway III.
Heading into the new campaign, Adaway is the only returning back who logged more than 50 carries last season and one of just two who surpassed 100 rushing yards in 2024. The veteran rusher totaled 295 yards on 77 carries while backing up Raheim “Rocket” Sanders and quarterback LaNorris Sellers.
Now in his seventh year of college football — and sixth season on the field, after missing 2021 due to injury — Adaway’s role is expected to grow significantly in his second year with the Gamecocks.
South Carolina added two key transfers this offseason: Rahsul Faison, who arrived from the portal but is still awaiting a seventh-year eligibility waiver, and Isaiah Augustave from Colorado. With a young and largely unproven group, Adaway’s experience could prove vital — regardless of Faison’s eligibility.
“He’s played a lot of football. He’s played in meaningful SEC games,” running backs coach Marquel Blackwell told The State. “He’s another year into the program, so he knows what we’re doing. Obviously, he’s had a heck of a summer, so he’s gotten better. It’s a big deal. He understands his role that he’s gonna have.”
At South Carolina’s recent media day, Blackwell didn’t hold back on his praise for Adaway, calling his offseason the best he’s ever seen from any player he’s coached.
“And I’ve coached some pretty good ones,” Blackwell said. “They’ve done a lot of good things on and off the field, but [Oscar] has probably had one of the best offseasons I’ve seen. Looking forward to him putting it on the grass, being a leader, and being productive like we expect. His approach — the way he goes about his business — like a straight professional. So happy to have him on this team.”
Adaway has embraced his role as the elder in a young backfield and is committed to leading by example.
“Just to lead, do everything right, stay locked in and stay focused,” he said. “Don’t lose the focus, stay with the same mentality you started with in your first game of your college career.”
Having appeared in 44 games — mostly at North Texas — and racking up 2,230 rushing yards, Adaway knows how valuable experience can be, not just for him, but for the entire room.
“It’s very important, experience goes a long way,” he said. “A lot of people can say, ‘Oh, I want to do this. I want to do that.’ But the first thing you’re going to ask somebody is, ‘How do I do it?’ And you’re not going to ask somebody that’s never done it before. You’re gonna ask somebody that has done it before.”
Last season, Adaway leaned on Sanders to help him adapt to SEC football. Now, he’s eager to pass that same support to the next wave of backs.
“I’m glad that I’m like that person now — just like how Rocket was for me last year,” he said. “I never played a lick of SEC football, but this guy’s been SEC Freshman of the Year before. So I used to ask him plenty of questions on this and that. I feel like it goes a long way, having that experience.”
According to Blackwell, South Carolina plans to take a committee approach in the backfield early on, with the hope that one player will emerge during fall camp as the clear lead.
Adaway, however, isn’t focused on titles or expectations. He’s keeping it simple:
“I’m just trying to go out there and play ball.”
