2022 at Gardner-Webb:
First Team All-Conference
Big South Conference Preseason Offensive Player of the Year
Preseason All-Conference
Walter Payton Award Watch List
CFPA FCS National Performer of the Year Watchlist
Big South Offensive Player of the Week (11/21)

Named First Team All-Conference...Was also voted the Big South Conference Preseason Player of the Year...Played in nine games at running back, rushing for 1,019 yards on 154 carries and seven touchdowns...Had 23 catches for 220 yards...Rushed for 245 yards and two touchdowns at Eastern Kentucky (11/26)...That mark is the second most rushing yards by a GWU player in program history (Since 1970) and the most ever by a GWU player in the Division I era (Since 2000)...Rushed for over 100 yards in five games...Opened season with 137 yards rushing on 13 carries and a touchdown vs Limestone (9/1)...After missing time with injury, returned at Robert Morris (10/8) and rushed for 106 yards on 11 carries...Ran the ball 21 times for 100 yards and a touchdown at Liberty (10/15)...Rushed 17 times for 54 yards and a touchdown and hauled in three catches for 59 yards vs Bryant (10/29)...Ran the ball 19 times for 100 yards and caught seven passes for 68 yards at Campbell (11/12)...Clinched GWU's first Big South Championship since 2003 with 107 yards and two touchdowns on 15 carries vs NC A&T (11/19)...Earned Big South Offensive Player of the Week (11/21) for his play against the Aggies...Finished the season with 185 yards receiving on 19 catches...Averaged 6.6 yards per carry and 101.9 yards rushing per game

2021 at Gardner-Webb: Named first-team All-Big South Conference for the second season in a row … Led the Big South with 991 yards rushing on 178 carries … Scored seven touchdowns and led the league with an average of 5.6 yards per carry … Finished as Gardner-Webb’s leading receiver with 42 catches for 351 yards and five touchdowns … Ranked No. 9 nationally with an average of 132.8 all-purpose yards per game … Produced five 100-yard rushing games, including two with 150 yards or more … Played in just 10 full games … Caught 10 passes in two different games … Tied a career-high with 151 yards and a touchdowns on 22 carries vs. Western Carolina (9/25) … Had a 29-yard catch in that win … Rushed 17 times for 150 yards and two touchdowns and caught five passes vs. Campbell (10/9) … Rushed 22 times for 117 yards and two touchdowns and caught 10 passes for 91 yards and the go-ahead score with 43 seconds left at No. 10 Kennesaw State (10/30) … Followed with 147 yards rushing on 27 carries to go with six catches for 57 yards and a touchdown at Hampton (11/6) … Capped season with 105 yards on 23 carries, along with 10 catches for 80 yards and two touchdowns in the win at North Carolina A&T (11/20) … Also averaged 21.8 yards on five kickoff returns, including a long of 42 yards in the near upset of FBS Georgia Southern (9/4) … Ran for 82 yards and a score on 16 carries at Charlotte (9/11).

Spring 2021 at Gardner-Webb: Earned first-team All-Big South Conference honors in first season as a starter … Led the team and ranked No. 2 in the league with 349 yards rushing and three touchdowns on 61 carries … Led the Big South with 5.7 yards per carry … Ranked second in the league and led Gardner-Webb with 122.0 all-purpose yards per game … Carried 18 times for a career-high 151 yards and a touchdown vs. Presbyterian (3/6) … Also caught four passes for 27 yards, including the game-winning touchdown … Broke school and Big South Conference records with his 96-yard touchdown run to open the game’s scoring … Had 222 all-purpose yards in that game … Came alive in the second half to rush for 111 yards and two key touchdowns on 19 carries to lift Gardner-Webb over No. 24 Elon (2/27) … Had 51 yards rushing on 16 carries at Charleston Southern (4/17).

2019 at Gardner-Webb: Played in 11 games … Ranked second on the team with 16 carries for 139 yards and a touchdown … Had seven carries for a season-best 95 yards and a touchdown vs. Campbell (10/26) … Broke off a 61-yard run in that game … Returned seven kickoffs for 139 yards on the season.

High School: Played at Rock Hill (S.C.) High under Coach David Pittman … Led team to an 8-3 mark in 2018 … A first-team Statewide All-State selection by the S.C. High School Sports Report following standout senior season … Named 2018 Area Offensive Player of the Year by the Rock Hill Herald … Also a first-team All-Area selection … Region 3-5A Player of the Year and Tri-County Coaches Association Offensive Player of the Year in 2018 … Carried 111 times for 1,573 yards and 18 touchdowns as a senior … Added 49 total tackles, five tackles for loss and two forced fumbles on defense … Was named 2017 Area Defensive Player of the Year by the Rock Hill Herald as a junior … Finished 2017 season with 123 total tackles (85 solo), 19.0 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, two interceptions, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and two blocked kicks … Carried 44 times for 229 yards on offense … An All-Region 4-5A selection and Tri-County Coaches Association Defensive Player of the Year for Class 4A/5A … Chose Gardner-Webb, over Tennessee Tech and North Carolina A&T.

Narii Gaither