Columbia, South Carolina — South Carolina Gamecocks running back Rahsul Faison is anxiously awaiting a decision from the NCAA regarding his eligibility for the 2025 season. In pursuit of clarity, Faison has enlisted the help of an attorney specializing in name, image, and likeness (NIL) rights.
Gamecocks head coach Shane Beamer addressed the media in Greenville on Thursday, acknowledging that Faison’s decision to hire legal representation was purely his own. “That was not something we directed him to do. I found out on social media, like everyone else,” Beamer said. “This is a personal step for Rahsul, and I believe he’s trying to expedite the process.”
Faison has retained attorney Darren Heitner, who has previously assisted South Carolina basketball player Myles Stute in obtaining a hardship waiver. The running back seeks a similar waiver to account for the challenges he faced during his time in junior college, akin to a waiver granted to Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia.
Faison’s journey to South Carolina has been circuitous. He initially enrolled at Marshall in 2019 and took a grayshirt year. Later, he transferred to junior college and played one season at Snow College in 2021 and 2022 before moving on to Utah State and ultimately South Carolina.
“The NCAA has a lot on their plate, which I get,” Beamer stated. “However, we have been seeking an answer since January, and the stakes are high for us. Rahsul felt it was time to take action to possibly push this along.”
Last season, Faison demonstrated his skills at Utah State, rushing for 1,109 yards at an average of 5.6 yards per carry while scoring eight touchdowns. He also recorded 22 receptions for 99 yards.
The uncertainty surrounding Faison’s status is causing mounting frustration within the program. As spring practice has concluded, clarity about his future remains elusive. “It’s becoming increasingly frustrating,” Beamer remarked. “We’ve provided everything the NCAA requested since January, and we still haven’t received a response. With the transfer portal now closed, we find ourselves in a tough predicament regarding our running back situation as we plan for 2025.”
The continuous lack of information leaves the Gamecocks uncertain about whether they will have three, four, or even more scholarship running backs for the upcoming season, complicating their strategic planning as they move forward.
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