Rich Rodriguez and his Jacksonville State Gamecocks earned a significant pickup through the post-spring transfer portal when former Georgia Bulldogs’ running back Andrew Paul chose the second-year Conference USA program as his future home Friday.
Paul entered the transfer portal on April 16 after spending the past two seasons with the Bulldogs according to On3’s Palmer Thombs.
He redshirted his true freshman season after suffering a knee injury in the 2022 preseason. In the 2023 season, Paul made seven appearances in a reserve role for the Bulldogs, where he amassed 129 yards and a touchdown through 29 total carries.
Paul will have three years of NCAA eligibility remaining entering the 2024 season.
Paul ranks as the No. 384 overall and No. 34 running back in On3’s 2024 Transfer Portal Industry Rankings.
The Dallas, Texas native attended Parish Episcopal School, where he ranked as the No. 429 overall prospect, No. 67 recruit in the state, and the No. 33 running back recruit according to On3’s Industry Rankings for the 2022 recruiting cycle.
In 2023, the Gamecocks finished 9-4 overall with a 6-2 conference record, which earned the program third place in its first year as a Conference USA member.
The Gamecocks also earned a 34-31 victory over the Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns in the 2023 R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl after the program was entrenched in the controversy surrounding the NCAA’s mandated transition year, which prevented programs in their first two years of FBS competition from earning postseason bowl game invitations.
With the addition of Paul, Gamecocks’ coach Rich Rodriguez could potentially have a powerful backfield weapon as he aims to build upon last year’s success.