Creel shouldering a bigger load ably for Jax State, but how long can he hold up? (Includes video of Creel and Gamecocks head coach Charles Kelly talking Jax Srate’s loss at Ohio, coming game against Georgia Southern and more).
Joe Medley
JACKSONVILLE — Nearly a year to the day since Caden Creel became Jax State’s starting quarterback, the cool customer within shows through.
It showed through after Jax State beat Troy in last season’s Bowl, when told, in his oh-by-the-way manner, how Troy offered him a preferred walkon offer compared to Jax State’s full ride.
It showed through most of his appearance at Tuesday’s weekly news conference in advance of Saturday’s home game with Georgia Southern. With his arms relaxed and hands rested under the table as he talked about learning that he didn’t have to make every play.
He echoed his head coach’s sentiments that way.
Then came a line of questioning about how often he runs the ball, either on designed runs or scrambles. Finding the right balance on sliding or going for the extra yard, and how sore he was after Jax State’s 29-27 loss at Ohio.
His hands had moved atop the table. He rubbed them together and cracked a knuckle.
“I was pretty sore, but you get seven days to recover,” Creel said. “I’m not really worried about it. A lot of bumps and bruises, but that stuff all goes away by the time the next game is ready to go.”
Comfort with a system is all part of a quarterback’s development. So is not taking everything on himself.
No question Creel has come some distance in those ways, but statistics say he is making most of the plays for the 2026 version of Jax State football.
He had 29 of Jax State’s 46 rushes at Ohio and all but two of the Gamecocks’ 26 pass attempts.
Out of 187 total offensive snaps this season, Creel has thrown 75 passes and rushed 54 times. His 54 rushes are more than three times the 16 total for the next most frequent ball carrier, running back Jalen Likely.
Running has always been part of Creel’s game, but Cam Cook took up 295 carries in 2025 to Creel’s 183. A hand injury has limited Likely’s touches, but it appears there’s no Cam Cook on this team.
This season’s version of Jax State looks more and more like Dameyune Craig-era Auburn, when Craig was a prolific passer, and his scrambles were the Tigers’ best running plays.
Play within the system, of course.
Take what the defense gives, of course.
But numbers bear out that Creel has been Jax State’s best option to date, and opposing defenses won’t be giving that.
Creel’s abilities and development make him more capable of carrying the load, but how long can he hold up carrying it? A turf burn on his elbow Tuesday says he’s tough enough, but toughness can’t stop the wrong hit at just the wrong angle on a knee.
Perhaps more will develop around Creel this season.
Perhaps an improved passing game, which showed in Creel’s career-high 327-yard output against eastern Kentucky, can be the release valve.
For now, a lot rests on the guy who showed he warranted that full ride from Jax State.
The guy who unseated an SEC transfer for Jax State’s starting job and helped the Gamecocks to their fourth consecutive 9-win season, including second bowl victory, has shouldered the load ably.
It’s for Jax State fans to rub hands and crack knuckles at every tackle and sack of Creel.
