Mike Bobo highlights the significance of Kevin Harris closing in on 1,000 yards
Kevin Harris is 72 yards from ending a drought that South Carolina has suffered through since 2013.
The Gamecocks running back needs that many yards to reach 1,000 for the season, the first time a Garnet and Black running back would do it in seven years. The more impressive feat is that Harris has done it in a year where it’s a shortened season against 10 SEC opponents, and the Gamecocks have struggled to have a productive passing game.
Harris has 928 yards, which leads the SEC, and 14 touchdowns.
“I think it’s a goal that’s on our kids’ minds and it’s not just Kevin, it’s something that the offense takes pride in, especially the offensive line and running backs, they know how close he is, and what he’s meant to this football team in the run game and the pass game,” interim coach Mike Bobo said on Tuesday. “Being able to do it, if we are be able to do in a 10-game season against all-SEC defenses is something that this offense can build on for the future.”
Bobo also noted that South Carolina hasn’t been balanced on offense.
“It has made running the ball a little more difficult,” Bobo said. “We’ve done a good job running a few different schemes, coaches have done a good job game planning, the players have done a good adjusting, we’re giving him a chance to be successful with giving him different runs. … When you’re pretty much one-dimensional like we’ve been and for him to do that against an all-SEC schedule, I think that speaks volumes of this offensive group and what they’ve done and obviously him.”
Bobo said he wouldn’t necessarily call extra plays for Harris to get the milestone, but Harris will have an opportunity because he’s such a vital part of the offense.