It’ll take some getting used to for Gamecocks fans, but for the first time in his career next season, fifth-year senior Brandon Wilds should finally receive the bulk of the carries in South Carolina’s rushing attack.

Life without Mike Davis, who recently declared for the NFL Draft, means Wilds will no longer be forced to look over his shoulder during practice or be the secondary option on gamedays as a zone-read ballcarrier. Wilds arrived in a crowded backfield featuring Marcus Lattimore in 2011 and has patiently waited his turn to be the workhorse, despite being nicked up throughout his tenure with various injuries.

The Columbia, S.C. native has enjoyed several 100-yard games, clutch performances against SEC competition and even overcame a career lowpoint in Steve Spurrier’s doghouse during the Capitial One Bowl (Jan. 2012) as a freshman to climb back up the depth chart as a reliable second-teamer.

Wilds’ patience is one of his best qualities, an element few running backs possess this late in their career. Paired with rising redshirt sophomore David Williams, the Gamecocks’ 1-2 backfield punch in 2015 will shoulder the burden on an offense breaking in a new quarterback, likely Connor Mitch or Perry Orth, players who combined to throw just eight passes this season.

Will it be enough to compete in a wide-open SEC East?

If he’s used correctly, Wilds should assume the role of downhill thunder to Williams’ lightning, a player with elite speed who proved it in minimal action as a freshman this season. Williams averaged a team-best 5.7 yards per carry and seemed to run hard to prove a point in his quest for more snaps during the second half.

Both backs are also capable of mimicking what Davis did best — catching balls out of the backfield to move the chains. Checkdowns became South Carolina quarterbacks Connor Shaw and Dylan Thompson’s best friends during the last two seasons, especially on third-and-manageable situations.

For a young passer like Mitch, high-percentage throws are necessary to build confidence on a unit that will have to take pressure off of the other side of the football next fall. Wilds and Williams can deliver despite only 49 career catches between the pair.

Led by Pharoh Cooper as the SEC’s top returning multi-position threat, South Carolina’s offense has the playmakers to perform at a high-level next season, but we know how Spurrier feels about taking the game out of his quarterback’s hands.

He’ll need to alter his philosophy a bit and adjust accordingly.