Late transfer addition brings explosiveness to new-look South Carolina RB room in 2025

South Carolina’s running back room received a late addition heading into the summer months when Isaiah Augustave joined from Colorado.

Despite initially committing to the Virginia Cavaliers out of the portal, South Carolina’s family-oriented environment drew Augustave, who is the father of a one-year-old daughter, to the Gamecocks. Augustave committed to the Gamecocks on June 11 and enrolled shortly after.

“We’re really excited about him,” head coach Shane Beamer said. “I guess you forget that he just got here in the summertime. He’s got speed, he’s got explosiveness. He had the longest run, at least in a scrimmage, of the preseason the other day, where he broke a tackle and had a 60-70 yard run, which was impressive to see.”

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South Carolina is Augustave’s third program in as many years. As a true freshman in 2023, he played for the Arkansas Razorbacks, appearing in 11 games. In his lone season with the Razorbacks, Augustave ran for 202 yards and a touchdown on 35 carries. Over half of Augustave’s yards came against FIU, where he rushed for 101 yards on 14 carries.

Augustave then transferred to Deion Sanders’ Colorado program, where he started in six games and appeared in 11. Augustave led the team in rushing yards, taking 85 carries for 394 yards and four touchdowns.

His time with Coach Prime taught him the proper way to play football, which, in his eyes, prepared him for South Carolina, Augustave told GamecockCentral in July.

Despite being a late addition, Augustave immediately clicked within the Gamecocks’ running back room.

“With (Isaiah), he came in here and fit just like he’s been here,” Nathan Harris-Waynick told GamecockCentral in July. “… We were close last year, but we tried to get a little bit closer. Just tighten everything up.”

Offensive coordinator Mike Shula believes, despite the short amount of time he’s been here, Augustave has taken strong advantage of his reps in fall camp.

“I think he’s gotten more reps as training camp has gone on,” Shula said. “I think he’s gonna bring something to the table for us, and we’re looking forward to seeing what we do.”

Augustave brings an explosiveness that South Carolina needs in a room that is replacing Raheim “Rocket” Sanders, who now plays for the NFL’s Los Angeles Chargers.

“He’s a guy that’s very serious about his work. He can run. He’s got size, he’s got an explosiveness to him when he hits the hole,” Beamer said. “He’s a hard runner and has been really good for us on special teams as well because of his size and speed of getting downhill.”

Shula echoed a similar description to Augustave’s game.

“But he’s got good speed. He can run behind the pads, run with good power, and I think he’s got some versatility,” Shula said.

Augustave himself described his running style as being a “hard runner” who “always makes the first guy miss.”

Overall, Augustave is happy to be back in the conference where his college football career began.

“I’m ready to play some SEC football, man,” Augustave said. “Ain’t nothing like playing in the SEC.”

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