Talented freshman Kamron Sandlin to start out at new position with South Carolina

Freshman Kamron Sandlin will begin his college career in the running back room, position coach Montario Hardesty told The State on Wednesday.

Sandlin played quarterback in high school but is listed as a tight end in South Carolina’s 2023 media guide. Hardesty confirmed rumblings of Sandlin moving to the Gamecocks’ backfield. At 6-foot-3, 220 pounds, the three-star signee from Alabama will be the biggest scholarship player at running back.

“He’s a big athlete,” Hardesty said, speaking during the annual Birdies With Beamer media golf outing. “He was a running quarterback. I think he can play multiple positions on offense, from h-back to tight end to running back. But I think he’s a natural runner. So I think he’s gonna start an our room, and we’ll go from there.

“I’m excited about him. He’s a football-smart guy.”

He joins a position group that’s been a magnet for concern this offseason. The Gamecocks lost three key players at tailback this year — MarShawn Lloyd (573 yards, nine rushing touchdowns) and Jaheim Bell (261 yards, three rushing touchdowns) to the transfer portal and Christian Beal-Smith (156 yards, five rushing touchdowns) to graduation.

The only remaining back from last year’s group is junior Juju McDowell. He played in all 13 games last year, starting two. Sixth-year senior Dakereon Joyner moved to running back in the spring to supplement the group. Mario Anderson — a transfer who dominated Division II over the last three years — joined the Gamecocks in the spring. Freshman Djay Braswell enrolled this summer.

Hardesty said he understands the outside concerns regarding his group, citing the small number of scholarship guys at the position and the lack of a player with more than 800 rushing yards in the SEC. But he expressed optimism regarding their potential, recollecting on times in his tenure at Tennessee where he was one of only four scholarship backs.

“I think some of it is warranted,” Hardesty said. “I think that it’s going to be a great time for us to show what we have in the room. And I think guys have chips on their shoulder, but we definitely have guys that have SEC skillsets. I think we’re going to be able to run the ball this year, and that’s going to be for us to show.”

The Gamecocks begin preseason practice Aug. 4.