South Carolina Football has once again turned to the Big Ten for help, securing a commitment from Penn State transfer running back to strengthen the backfield. Following a frustrating 4–8 campaign, it is the type of roster addition Shane Beamer and his staff were eager to make. He heads to Columbia with four years of eligibility intact after redshirting at Penn State, giving the Gamecocks a potential long-term contributor in new offensive coordinator Kendal Briles’ system.
That level of remaining eligibility is especially valuable for a program looking to establish continuity and stability on offense moving forward.
From Imhotep to Penn State
Jabree Coleman arrives with an impressive high school résumé built during his career at Imhotep Charter in Philadelphia. One of the most productive running backs in Pennsylvania high school history, he was a four-year letterman and served as a team captain for two seasons. As a junior, Coleman piled up 1,610 rushing yards and 28 touchdowns, then followed that up with 1,135 yards and 15 scores during his senior year.
Recruiting services viewed him as a blue-chip prospect coming out of high school, with several outlets labeling him a four-star recruit and ranking him among the top running backs and overall players in the state.
South Carolina running backs coach Stan Drayton, who previously coached at Penn State, was the one who originally recruited Coleman and oversaw his redshirt season in Happy Valley. Coleman chose the Nittany Lions over offers from North Carolina, Pitt, and Rutgers, though South Carolina remained heavily involved and hosted him for an official visit in June 2023. He now becomes the Gamecocks’ second running back pickup from the transfer portal and the 17th overall addition in this transfer class.
Why Coleman Fits What South Carolina Needs
While Coleman did not see game action during the 2025 season at Penn State, his physical makeup aligns closely with what South Carolina has been lacking at the position. Measuring roughly 6-foot and 209 pounds, he offers a combination of strength and burst that projects well to SEC play, particularly behind an offensive line undergoing a reset.
A running back capable of handling all three downs gives Kendal Briles more freedom to expand the playbook, including inside zone concepts, gap-scheme runs, and versatile screen designs that can put pressure on opposing defenses.
Coleman joins former Ohio State running back Sam Dixon as the second transfer addition at the position this cycle. He will compete with returners Matt Fuller, Jawarn Howell, and Isaiah Augustave, creating a deeper, more balanced running back room than the Gamecocks have had in recent years.