South Carolina has scored a major recruiting victory, landing four-star running back Carsyn Baker, a prospect the Gamecocks aggressively targeted after making the position one of their top priorities heading into 2026.
Baker, who unexpectedly decommitted from Florida earlier in the week, immediately became one of the most coveted backs on the market. With the Gamecocks battling both North Carolina and the Gators for his signature, head coach Shane Beamer and running backs coach Marquel Blackwell made their strongest push yet to solidify the future of the backfield.
Their effort paid off.
A Crucial Need Filled
South Carolina’s running back room was entering a dangerous zone. With Oscar Adaway III, Rahsul Faison, and Bradley Dunn all departing, the roster was down to just three scholarship backs:
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Matthew Fuller (redshirt freshman)
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Jawarn Howell (redshirt sophomore)
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Isaiah Augustave (junior)
Beamer made it clear this week that entering a season with only three scholarship tailbacks was “literally impossible,” stressing that the Gamecocks had to act aggressively to rebuild depth.
Baker’s commitment is the first—and biggest—step in that direction.
Why Baker Was a Priority
At 4-stars and one of the best athletes available after reopening his recruitment, Carsyn Baker fits the mold of the high-impact, championship-level player Beamer says USC is determined to bring in. The Gamecocks were unwilling to settle for a lesser prospect in the high school ranks and instead went all-in on a back who could contribute early.
Baker is known for his acceleration, toughness between the tackles, and ability to break long runs—skills that South Carolina desperately needs after finishing with the second-worst rushing offense in the SEC last season (111 yards per game).
A Fresh Start for the Backfield
With Baker now in the mix and more portal activity expected, South Carolina’s running back situation is beginning to stabilize. Baker joins a team that relied heavily on transfer backs in recent years—adding names like Rocket Sanders, Adaway, Howell, Faison, and Augustave.
This time, however, the Gamecocks get their boost from the high school ranks—a potentially long-term answer instead of a one-season rental.
What’s Next
Even with Baker’s commitment, Beamer is expected to continue attacking the transfer portal to add at least one more experienced running back. But with Baker on board, USC now has a dynamic young piece to build around.
For a position group that desperately needed help, South Carolina just landed exactly what it was looking for—a big-time, four-star difference-maker.
