The redshirt senior looks to stand out as a veteran presence in 2016.
Darius Paulk
RS Senior
Running Back
5’7”, 195
Columbia, SC
Recruitment
Paulk, a brother of former Gamecocks LB standout Rodney Paulk, was recruited by North Greenville and ended up signing with the program in 2012. He walked on to South Carolina in spring 2014 and earned a scholarship in 2015 after sitting out fall 2014 due to NCAA regulations.
College Career
Paulk got off to a strong start at North Greenville as he racked up 748 yards on the ground as a freshman. That dipped to just 120 yards in 2013 in what turned out to be his final year at NGU. He then headed home to Columbia, where he worked his way to an eventual scholarship in 2015. He primarily played on special teams and appeared in every game last year.
2016 Outlook
You’ll likely see Paulk remain in his current role as a special teams contributor and a depth running back. That said, his work ethic to earn himself a scholarship can’t be overlooked. A veteran voice like his will be key to have in the locker room, especially as some of the younger players make their adjustment to the college game.