Rahsul Faison eligibility case: Why South Carolina remains in limbo
Although the calendar says its mid-July, South Carolina is still dealing with considerable uncertainty regarding its depth chart for the 2025 season.
That’s because the Gamecocks still do not know whether or not Rahsul Faison will be eligible for the 2025 season or not. Faison has been awaiting a decision from NCAA for months — a process that remains ongoing even as SEC Media Days begin this week.
If deemed eligible, Faison is likely to be South Carolina’s lead running back this season and could be one of the most prolific rushers in the SEC. If he’s denied eligibility, the Gamecocks would be forced to utilize a stable of unproven players at that position.
Rahsul Faison eligibility case
This story will break down every aspect of Faison’s eligibility fight, what he would bring to South Carolina’s offense, the Gamecocks’ backup plans and more.
Is Rahsul Faison eligible?
Faison’s eligibility case is the result of a non-traditional path in college football. Originally a 2019 recruit, Faison gray-shirted at Marshall that season before sitting out 2020 and 2021.
In 2022, Faison rushed for 355 yards and 6 touchdowns while playing for Snow College in Ephraim, Utah.
From there, Faison transferred to Utah State where he spent the 2023 and 2024 seasons. He broke out in a big way in 2024 for the Aggies, rushing for 1,109 yards and 8 touchdowns.
How many years of eligibility do college football players have?
There are exceptions such as medical waivers, but college football players generally have 5 years to play 4 seasons before exhausting their on-field eligibility.
Here’s a year-by-year look at Faison’s college career so far:
- 2019: Marshall (grayshirt)
- 2020: Lackawanna College (did not play due to COVID-19)
- 2021: Snow College (did not play)
- 2022: Snow College
- 2023: Utah State
- 2024: Utah State
Faison is attempting to gain an extra year of eligibility on the basis that he has only played 3 seasons of college football so far.
Last December, it seemed Faison’s college career could be extended after Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia won a precedent-setting decision that allowed JUCO players an additional year of eligibility.
However, Faison’s case is more complicated as his 5-year clock has already expired. The NCAA so far has stated that all players, even those with JUCO histories, need to complete their collegiate careers within 5 years unless they receive a waiver. Even the 5-year rule, though, has been contested in court in recent months.
What happens if Rahsul Faison’s eligibility is denied?
If Faison is not deemed eligible by the NCAA ahead of the 2025 season, a lawsuit is possible. Faison retained noted attorney Darren Heitner back in May.
Faison could also decide to turn pro. Bryan Miller, Faison’s agent, told the Post and Courier earlier this year that becoming an unrestricted NFL free agent is the “likely” option if the NCAA denies his eligibility.
How good is Rahsul Faison?
Surface stats and advanced metrics show Faison as a very good running back. He rushed for over 1,100 yards last season at Utah State and averaged 5.8 yards per attempt across 2 seasons with the Aggies.
According to Game on Paper, Faison averaged 0.17 EPA per rush last season. That ranked 57th nationally among qualified players, including quarterbacks. That ranking places him on par with players like Omarion Hampton, Ja’Quinden Jackson and Le’Veon Moss in terms of efficiency.
What has Shane Beamer said about Rahsul Faison?
South Carolina coach Shane Beamer is understandably frustrated with the lack of a decision on Faison’s case.
“And it’s getting frustrating, just to be completely frank,” Beamer said back in May. “I understand the NCAA has a lot on their plate, but the fact that they’ve had everything they needed from us since January – we don’t have an answer – it’s frankly disappointing. We’ve given them everything they needed back in January. They asked for more. We gave them what they needed.”
Who will start at running back for South Carolina if Rahsul Faison is not eligible?
At least part of the reason for South Carolina’s discontent is likely the lack of a true No. 1 running back if Faison is deemed ineligible.
As Beamer noted earlier this offseason, the Gamecocks didn’t pursue a running back in the spring transfer window as they were anticipating good news on Faison.
However, South Carolina was able to add a transfer last month: former 4-star running back Isaiah Augustave. He began his career at Arkansas in 2023 and spent 2024 at Colorado. He’s averaged almost 5 yards per carry across 120 attempts with the Razorbacks and Buffs.
Behind Augustave is Oscar Adaway, who totaled almost 300 yards last season he was South Carolina’s primary backup behind Sanders. Matthew Fuller and Jawarn Howell also return to the program and should provide depth.
When will Rahsul Faison learn if he is eligible or not?
That’s the million dollar question. As noted above, Beamer was frustrated to not have a clear answer back in May — let alone mid-July.
It’s worth noting the NCAA has been known to take these decisions right up to the wire. Back in 2023, North Carolina receiver Tez Walker learned he wouldn’t be eligible to play that season on Sept. 7 (that decision was later reversed in October of the same year).
Last week, Faison shared this message on social media:
Spenser is a news editor for Saturday Down South and covers college football across all Saturday Football brands.