South Carolina will have a new running backs coach next season but thanks to the recruiting efforts of Will Muschamp’s Gamecock staff, including former funning backs coach Thomas Brown, Des Kitchings has a lot to work with heading into next season.

The new Gamecock running backs coach met with the media on Thursday and when asked to share his thoughts on the running backs he had inherited at South Carolina, it was no surprise the first name brought up was true freshman MarShawn Lloyd.

“Yeah, so I have been watching some and, you know, obviously, I think MarShawn is as advertised so I look forward to working with him,” Kitchings said.

“It was only five practice the spring, I kind of really focused on the offense of Coach Bobo, and saw some flashes both with Kevin [Harris] and Deshaun [Fenwick] as far as guys that are coming back. I like what I see there. Unfortunately, not able to work with them, don’t know when we’ll be able to work, so it will be more mental going forward.”

When asked a follow-up question on Lloyd, Kitchings noted that the freshman runner has the “it” factor that coaches hope to see when recruits arrive on campus.

“Yeah, he has some juice in his legs, you know. He’s a kid you know makes a cut and gets vertical very fast,” Kitchings continued. “You saw him breaking a couple tackles, you know, very limited in pads but just, there’s some intangible things you see there that says this guy’s got it — and not to say the other kids didn’t either but he just flashed on film, those couple of practices in spring.”

Lloyd wasn’t the only newcomer that caught Kitchings eye, however, as Colorado State graduate transfer fullback Adam Prentice was another offseason addition that the South Carolina coaching staff has high hopes for in 2020.

“The addition of Adam Prentice I think will play a big role in the offense going into the fall,” Kitchings added. “Those are some guys that you just study here and say, they have some skill, they have some abilities, now let’s get together, at some point, and working together trying to refine that.”

It’s not often a new assistant can walk into his room and have the star power and experience Kitchings will have at South Carolina next season, now it’s his job to prove he can get the most out of that group immediately in the fall.