Redshirt senior quarterback Robby Ashford is no stranger to college football.
Ashford has played in more than 24 games in his college career. South Carolina will be Ashford's third team in five years and his second school within the SEC.
And he makes his stop at South Carolina with two years left of eligibility.
Ashford is hoping to use his experience to help the Gamecock football program and, more specifically, the quarterback room, which is in a period of transition following the departure of Spencer Rattler to the NFL.
"This is my new home," Ashford said. "And I'm going to give my new home everything I've got."
Before his collegiate career began, Ashford was a highly-touted recruit who was put on the National High School Quarterback of the Year Award watch list and selected for the Under Armour All-American Game in both football and baseball.
Ashford committed to the Oregon ahead of his freshman season but decided to redshirt after not earning a starting role. He found himself in a similar position leading into his season with the Ducks, as well, as he was one of six quarterbacks on the roster for the second year in a row.
Ashford then decided to transfer to Auburn, where he was presented with an opportunity to start right away as a redshirt sophomore in 2022. He threw for 1,613 passing yards and seven touchdowns in his debut season with the Tigers, while also showing his potential to be a dual threat with his rushing ability.
Ashford became the first Auburn quarterback to rush for 100 yards in a game since 2014.
But he then saw significantly less playing time in the 2023 season, where he totaled just for 364 yards of offense and seven touchdowns.
The lack of playing time led to a second transfer for Ashford, this time to South Carolina, a place he said has provided him with a welcoming environment since he first arrived in Columbia.
"I've been to two stops so I know what it's like to be the new guy ... you're going to get there, first few days you might be a little nervous just because you don't know anybody," Ashford said. "But I mean these guys have taken me in from the day I got here and just shown me nothing but love."
Head coach Shane Beamer said Ashford's experience in the SEC will be beneficial to the quarterback room in close late game situations, as it was something the room does not possess after Rattler left the program.
"In the quarterback room as well, (Ashford and graduate student Davis Beville) have played at this level," Beamer said. "Robbie has started games in this conference."
Beamer added that while Ashford is not new to playing in the SEC, he is new to the South Carolina offense.
"It's new for them because they're learning a new system and how we do things," Beamer said. "But it's not a situation where the bullets are flying out there, and they don't know how to respond. They've been in those situations before, which is great."
His experience is something Beamer said will help Ashford mentor and compete with redshirt freshman LaNorris Sellers, who is the lone returning quarterback on South Carolina's roster.
Ashford is looking to help his fellow quarterbacks and teammates by being a vocal leader and "leading by example," he said.
"Playing quarterback, you gotta be a leader. If you're leading by example and leading the right way, those guys will follow," Ashford said. "That just makes our team better when everybody's on their same accord."
Even though Ashford will be playing with many new teammates like Sellers, he does have a previous relationship with redshirt senior quarterback-turned-wide receiver Luke Doty. Both players competed in the Elite 11 event, a competition for the nation's top high school quarterbacks, in 2019.
Doty said Ashford was the "same guy he is today" from a playmaking standpoint.
"He's still a big-time competitor, loves to go out there and just spin the ball as hard as he can. He's a great athlete," Doty said. "I even texted him when I saw that he committed here and was like, 'Hey man, it's come a long way since Dallas in — what was that, 2019?' So everything comes full circle."
Ashford will continue fighting for South Carolina's starting quarterback as spring practice progresses and culminates in the Garnet & Black Spring Game, which will take place on April 20 at Williams-Brice Stadium.