With questions at quarterback, all but one wide receiver position, and even a spot or two on the offensive line, there is one position South Carolina coaches and fans don’t need to worry about. The Gamecocks have two horses in the running game that are ready at the gates, just waiting for the race to start.

Sophomore running back David Williams

Senior Brandon Wilds and sophomore David Williams will be the anchors of this season’s offense. The run game, which features two players that average over five yards per carry, is something the Gamecocks will have to establish early with an inexperienced quarterback taking the reins this season.

The two tailbacks are in a battle for the first carry of the season, but that second handoff will be just as important as the first.

“I need two horses. I don’t need a horse and a mule, I need two horses,” running backs coach Everette Sands said. “I definitely have two horses in David and Brandon. The question is who is going to be the one to run out there first.”

Whether it’s the fifth-year senior or the third-year sophomore tallying that first carry against North Carolina on Sept. 3, both have similar running styles with subtle differences.

“It’s a good combination of guys to have. I think David’s feet are more part of his game, but both of them are bigger guys. Brandon is definitely more hit it and get it and at times David is going to use his feet a little bit,” Sands said. “Both of them are fast, but Brandon is going to be more of a downhill guy. At the same time, David can be a downhill guy and he’s proven that. It’s a huge luxury. There is a luxury to have big guys with small guy speed.”

The two are used to sharing the load, especially Wilds. Over the past two seasons it was Wilds and Mike Davis that formed a one-two punch for the Gamecocks.

“It’s really important for us to just set the tone early so the offense can come together, have confidence, and be able to depend on us,” Williams said.

A running game is not complete without the big guys to lead the way and Sands believes that those two ingredients are in place.

Senior running back Brandon Wilds

“I think right now, two of our older positions are the offensive line and the running backs. To me, that’s a great combination,” Sands said. “Of course, if I don’t have the offensive line to block for my guys then it can get kind of dicey. The offensive line is doing a great job so far and I think those two guys are going to bring a lot to the table. They can break the big play, but at the same time when it’s third and one they can break some tackles and get that first down.”

Wilds was also quick to point out that his success in his final go around will be directly influenced by the play of the offensive line. He has no worries about his blockers.

“With my O-line, I trust everyone of them,” Wilds said. “They’re ready to run just as ready as I am. They always come to me and say let’s run [isolation]. Just run down hill.”

They can run through gaps, take to the outside, break tackles, and out run defenders. This shake and bake, thunder and lighting, fire and ice (or whatever other names you can think of) combo will have to be what starts and finishes games for the Gamecocks in 2015.

Q&A with Sands

What does each bring to the fold?

Brandon has a little more experience, definitely understand the pass protection a bit more, really good speed, big back, breaks tackles. On the other side David hasn’t had as much experience but is also a big back that can run. He’s got really good feet. In a lot of ways they are similar but there are subtle differences. It’s a good combination of guys to have.

Have the newcomers brought the energy you like to see?

They have and of course having our first scrimmage yesterday, it’s totally different being in a practice situation and then all of a sudden you’re in a game like situation. The head starts scrambling a whole lot more when it’s a game-like situation. They are in there, working hard.

What about Shon Carson? Nobody has talked about him much this preseason. How is he doing?

He’s doing well, but again Shon is not as big as those guys. He’s a step faster, but he’s not quite as big. He does have experience and confidence. He’s made a lot of big plays for us. So he’s not a forgotten, he’s just not in the forefront. It’s a good luxury that I can go get him in and I know he’s done it at this level before so it’s not a question of can he do it.