WATCH: 28-yard touchdown puts South Carolina on the board against Auburn
South Carolina’s first points of the night against Auburn on Saturday came as a result of a 28-yard catch and scamper by running back ZaQuandre White.
White caught a short pass from quarterback Jason Brown just behind the line of scrimmage and had the open field in front of him thanks to a block from his teammate.
The play capped off a 10-play, 67-yard drive, a drive which was longer than South Carolina’s previous three drives combined, one of which ended in an interception.
Auburn leads South Carolina 14-7 in Columbia late in the second quarter. The Gamecocks have to win one of their final two games to become bowl eligible in head coach Shane Beamer’s first season. They have not been to a bowl game since 2018, a 28-0 Belk Bowl loss to UVA under former head coach Will Muschamp.
White building upon standout spring
White transferred to South Carolina in 2020 from Iowa Western Community College and appeared in nine games last year. He had 16 carries for 59 yards.
White won the Most Improved Player of the Spring award this year, and he is clearly building upon that performance this fall. Entering Saturday’s game, White had 65 carries for 462 yards and two touchdowns plus 12 receptions for 114 yards and a receiving touchdown.
Prior to heading to JUCO, White went to Florida State from 2017-2018. He played linebacker for the Seminoles in six games and saw time on the field last year on offense, defense and special teams as a result of his versatility.
White is originally from North Fort Myers, Fla. and is listed as a redshirt senior. He was a five-star transfer and ranked as the No. 1 running back in Iowa and No. 23 national player by On3 prior to his February 2020 commitment to South Carolina.