COLUMBIA — He by now has the nickname. That’s specified. No one can neglect a male identified as “Juju.”
Now its just a matter of how to sector him, since judging from his effectiveness in South Carolina’s 20-17 get at East Carolina past 7 days, Juju McDowell is the following star of Gamecock soccer.
“Me, I sense not cozy mainly because I by no means want to get complacent, but I’m happy of the situation that I’m in,” McDowell reported soon after 134 all-reason yards versus the Pirates on Sept. 11, setting up the recreation-tying and sport-profitable field aims. “Especially staying surrounded by the caliber of backs that we have in our running back space. I assume it is fairly the accomplishment just staying in a position to move on the industry with these fellas.”
He flashed his megawatt smile as blonde-tipped braids dangled past his chin. Madison Avenue drools.
The Guy Called Juju? Not the similar punch as “The Male Called Sting.”


JuJu Dancer? A comparison to Richard Pryor’s semi-autobiographical motion picture is not the route to just take below.
Jujubes! Does any individual even know the place to locate ’em any longer?
McDowell bought the nick from the Biblical connotation of his provided 1st name, Caleb. It represents a warrior from Judah, so “Ju.” The phrase “juju” by itself can imply belief that talismans or trinkets convey great or terrible luck.
Robert DeNiro was weighty into it with his beloved Philadelphia Eagles in “Silver Linings Playbook.” No telling how coach Shane Beamer is when it comes to his freshman tailback, but he is aware he’s going to continue to keep obtaining on the field.
“There’s a great deal of factors I have been by. And football has been like an outlet,” claimed McDowell, waxing philosophic though cleansing Pirate purple out of his cleats. “I love the activity so considerably, I cannot assist but to display my passion for the recreation when I’m out there.
“My complete everyday living, expanding up, everybody has often informed me I would be also small to perform functioning back, also modest to engage in in the SEC. Now, grateful to God that coach Beamer has given me that possibility. I can not do just about anything but embrace it, you know?”
His 63-yard kick return in the fourth quarter immediately acquired USC (2-) in position to equivalent East Carolina’s direct-having field aim a instant ahead of. His 1-property hurry on the drive built Parker White’s tying industry objective a 39-yarder.
6 of his 11 carries have been in the up coming possession, in which the Gamecocks received the ball back again with 4:54 to enjoy and ground each second of it. McDowell experienced runs of 8, 15, 5, 16, and 1 yards before USC called timeout with a few seconds to go.
White’s next field goal won the video game, created the Gamecocks 2- for just the second time in nine seasons and created an prospect. Wherever USC goes this season, McDowell has a solid possibility to be front and heart in it.
The publicity could be monstrous, anyone wanting to know about the modest kid who no person can catch.
“Hey Juju, how tall you is?” receiver Josh Vann called to him in the postgame locker room at Eu. “My dude Juju is 6-5, person, that’s how he plays.”
“Every time any individual asks me about Juju, I’m likely to convey to them I love that kid,” claimed defensive end J.J. Enagbare, beaming like a very pleased papa. “Deep down, he’s got that doggy in him.”


(Caleb is relevant to keleb, a Hebrew word meaning puppy, in accordance to the New American Typical Exhaustive Concordance. An alternate that means is ruthless, bold or courageous.)
“He’s most likely just one of the smallest people today on our crew, but he performs like the most important, talks like the most important,” Enagbare continued. “You would never know he’s 5-2.”
“I’m 5-9, person,” McDowell grinned.
“Size don’t indicate anything at all,” MarShawn Lloyd claimed. “Juju is the most explosive back again we acquired here at South Carolina.”
Substantial praise coming from a remarkably recruited operating back who’s competing with McDowell for carries. The glory from outside the house is mounting.
Promotion from in just USC must before long stick to. The momentum of Juju can’t be stopped.
Observe David Cloninger on Twitter @DCPandC.