ESPN names South Carolina RB as ‘sleeper’ breakout candidate in 2026
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ESPN knows that South Carolina has a potentially special player in its backfield, and that’s quarterback LaNorris Sellers.
But on Thursday morning, ESPN revealed a piece that had nothing to do with Sellers, who is a known commodity in Columbia. Instead, this was all about sleeper candidates who could potentially come out of nowhere and emerge for their programs in 2026.
For South Carolina, that sleeper of a breakout candidate lines up just behind Sellers, and it’s redshirt sophomore Matt Fuller. The 5-foot-11, 221-pounder is a Georgia native who is now playing in a rival SEC state for a program in need of a jump-start after last season’s disappointment under Shane Beamer.
ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg believes that jolt could come from Fuller, who last season rushed 72 times for 260 yards and 2 touchdowns. Fuller also caught 6 passes for 32 yards.
The ESPN sleeper piece wrote about Fuller:
Fuller has been one of South Carolina’s biggest offseason stars, being named the team’s offensive player of the spring and continuing to progress in camp.
Fuller has already showed an ability to make a difference. Last season, he had a 72-yard touchdown run against LSU, and Fuller helped the Gamecocks seal a victory over Kentucky with 48 yards rushing.
ESPN pointed out in the piece that Fuller’s emergence would be just what South Carolina needs after its rushing attack finished 117th nationally in 2025.
Fuller will try to help the Gamecocks become relevant again in the SEC title discussion in 2026. Here is what the Kalshi odds are currently saying for South Carolina to do just that in the SEC after a disappointing 2025 season:
Cory Nightingale, a former sportswriter and sports editor at the Miami Herald and Palm Beach Post, is a South Florida-based freelance writer who covers Alabama for SaturdayDownSouth.com.
