Gamecocks add productive back from transfer portal
One of the country’s most prolific transfer running backs has committed to the South Carolina Gamecocks.
Mario Anderson, who played his first three seasons of college football at Newberry in the South Atlantic Conference, put up big numbers in 2022.
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Anderson announced the choice on social media on Sunday night.
When he found out about the offer from South Carolina from head coach Shane Beamer during a weekend visit to USC, it was a huge moment for the Palmetto State native.
“I kind of broke down crying. I didn’t want to show it in front of coach or anything, but I got to the car and got emotional. It really does mean a lot. They welcomed me with open arms, down to the nutritionist,” he said earlier this weekend.
During his most reason season – as a redshirt sophomore, Anderson tallied 1,560 yards and 19 touchdowns on the ground, averaging 7.4 yards per carry.
The 5-foot-9, 210-pounder, who played his high school football at Stratford in Summerville, made a visit to Columbia on Friday.
South Carolina’s starter at running back for the 2022 season, MarShawn Lloyd, recently entered the NCAA transfer portal. The Gamecocks also lose seniors Christian Beal-Smith and Dante Miller.
For his career, Anderson has accumulated 3,301, 35 rushing touchdowns, and has averaged 6.4 6.4 yards per carry.
There will be a significant chance to earn early playing time for Anderson next season at USC.
“Just to come in and work hard. That’s really the main thing,” Anderson told GamecockCentral.com last week. “The opportunity is there, it’s up to me.”
Following the 2022 season, Anderson earned Associated Press First-Team All-American honors for the Division II level. Anderson was also named to the All-American Second-Team by the Division II Conference Commissioners Association.
He was the Piedmont Division Offensive Player of the Year and also a finalist for the Harlon Hill Trophy.
Here is more on Anderson from Newberry Athletics:
“He posted the third and fourth highest rushing yards in a single game in back-to-back weeks as he rushed for 246 against Catawba before leading the Wolves to a victory over then #12 Lenoir-Rhyne with 243 yards on the ground. He set a new NCAA record for yards in a quarter with 201 posted against Lenoir-Rhyne in the fourth quarter of that contest. He rushed for over 100 yards in nine games this season, lifting his career total to 16 games.
He also was able to score a touchdown in all but one game on the season. Anderson ranks third in the country in rushing yards per game with 156, fifth in total rushing yards with 1,560, and sixth overall in rushing TDs with 19. He ranks tied for sixth in scoring, averaging 11.4 points per game and ranks fourth in the nation in yards per carry with 7.39. Overall, he ranks 10th in the country in all-purpose yards, averaging 158.5.“
