Tavien Feaster explains decision to leave Clemson for South Carolina, likes Gamecocks championship potential
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The newest face on the Gamecock roster has arrived in Columbia with a ton of fanfare and hype with most having the expectation that Tavien Feaster will start at running back for South Carolina after leaving Clemson as a graduate transfer.
Ranked as the nation’s No. 1 all-purpose running back coming out of high school, Feaster possesses the ability to explode out of the backfield to a degree that South Carolina simply did not have on its roster before his arrival.
During his first media availability since joining Will Muschamp’s program, the former Clemson running back explained why South Carolina was the right choice for him heading into his final season of college eligibility.
“Obviously I liked what I heard and I liked the opportunity here,” Feaster said of his decision in a video posted to YouTube by Spurs & Feathers.
When it came to making a decision, the South Carolina running back said he narrowed his options down to two schools.
“Here and Virginia Tech, I would say,” Feaster continued. “I like Virginia Tech, I liked the setup they had but obviously, I thought this was the best place for me, I could come in right away and help the team out.”
What was it that pushed South Carolina to the top his list?
“It was definitely (running backs) Coach (Thomas) Brown, his amazing track record,” Feaster added. “I like the way he coaches, his intensity. A guy that’s going to be on you every day and demands your best. That was the biggest deciding factor for me.”
Many may assume leaving the defending national champions may have been tough, especially considering many are picking the Tigers to repeat not only as ACC champions but as national champions. However, Feaster didn’t seem to factor that into his decision to leave the school.
“I just needed more opportunity, for myself, and to try and get myself in a better position… that was really it,” Feaster said of his decision to leave Clemson. “It was a decision I had to make for myself and that’s what I stuck with.”
Finally, on his early evaluation of the South Carolina program, the running back believes he has joined a team capable of competing for championships.
“I believe these guys have what it takes,” Feaster concluded. “Camps been, day in and day out tough, physical, I like it. You know, we are competing every day against each other.”
A graduate of the University of Tennessee, Michael Wayne Bratton oversees the news coverage for Saturday Down South. Michael previously worked for FOX Sports and NFL.com
