How the ‘other running back’ in South Carolina’s 2020 class ‘earned’ his scholarship
Rashad Amos had scholarship offers last spring, but not from the schools he truly desired.
“I was hungry for more,” Amos said.
Sandy Creek High School (Ga.) coach Brett Garvin knew he had a running back with SEC potential. He just needed Amos to have the kind of senior season that would attract the likes of a, say, South Carolina.
The Gamecocks were the natural fit. Will Muschamp’s program was already familiar with Sandy Creek because of its recruitment of defensive back Joey Hunter. If Amos could make the USC staff shift its eyes to the Sandy Creek offense, he’d get a shot.
“I told (Carolina defensive coordinator) Travaris Robinson in the spring that they needed him,” Garvin said. “And Rashad had to have a big season, and we told him that.
“He did, he went out and he performed at the highest level all year.”
Amos ran for 1,324 yards and 30 touchdowns. He caught 28 passes for 478 yards and six scores. He committed to South Carolina on Nov. 12.
“You got to trust the process and you got to get in there and work,” Garvin said Dec. 18 shortly after a Signing Day ceremony. “Rashad’s a great kid and worked hard every day at practice. He didn’t have a lot (of scholarship offers) coming out of the spring and I’m sure he was worried a little bit about that.
“But we just kept telling him, ‘You just perform and everything will break the way it’s supposed to.’ He earned this scholarship.”
Amos chose the Gamecocks over Boise State, N.C. State and Tennessee, among others. He’s the less-heralded of the two RBs in Carolina’s 2020 class — as the other is prized four-star MarShawn Lloyd.
“Of course, it’s going to be a dog fight,” Amos said of the future Gamecock running back room. “I have to go in there and compete. And I have no problem with competing. So whoever wins the battle is going to play.”
Amos has been in this mode for a while, fighting for a spotlight. He completed the mission in 2019 and signed to play in the state where a bulk of his family is from.
Tony Amos, Rashad’s father, is a Sumter native who led “Spurs Up” cheers during his son’s signing ceremony.
“You got to work hard,” Tony Amos said. “Stay humble, work hard. I’ve always told him, ‘Keep God first, work hard and when the gates open, they open.’ And that’s what happened. He look around at some of his friends who had more offers. I said, ‘Well, consider they play different positions than you, had more playing time.’
“But along the way I just told him, ‘You keep your nose down, stay focused, play hard, work hard.’ When the gates opened, he took advantage.”
Amos is set to arrive at USC this summer.
“The thing about Rashad,” Hunter said, “it’s so hard to tackle him. I don’t think people understand. You won’t understand until you actually have to tackle him.
“MarShawn’s a really great running back, too. We’re getting two great running backs. I love competition, I love development, but I think Rashad’s definitely going to come in and compete for that starting job.”
This story was originally published January 7, 2020 at 5:00 AM with the headline "How the ‘other running back’ in South Carolina’s 2020 class ‘earned’ his scholarship."
