TAMPA, Fla. – Gardner-Webb senior running back Narii Gaither was named to the East-West Shrine Bowl 1000 list on Wednesday, which is made up of the top 1,000 student-athletes at all levels of college football who are eligible for the 2023 NFL Draft and postseason all-star games.

Gaither (Rock Hill, S.C. / Rock Hill HS) is one of only two Big South Conference players to make the watch list.

The All-America candidate is one of the top all-purpose backs in the country and is coming off the best season of his career. A two-time All-Big South choice, Gaither churned out 991 yards on the ground with seven scores – and also led the team with 42 catches for 351 yards and five touchdowns. The 5-foot-10, 180-pound speedster led the Big South in rushing, all-purpose yards and yards per carry last season and topped the 100-yard rushing mark in five games.

Gaither ranked No. 9 nationally in all-purpose yards and was only one of two backs to lead his team in rushing yards and receptions during the 2021 season.

His best game of the season came in a narrow loss at No. 10 Kennesaw State, when he rushed 22 times for 117 yards and two touchdowns and caught a career-high 10 passes for 91 yards and the go-ahead score with just 43 seconds left in the game. He followed with 210 all-purpose yards at Hampton and closed with 185 all-purpose yards and two receiving touchdowns in the season finale win at North Carolina A&T.

Gaither dashed for a season-high 151 yards on the ground and a touchdown in a win over Western Carolina in late September and enters the 2022 season with 2,226 career all-purpose yards and 1,454 yards in just 26 games on the ground.

Gardner-Webb returns 20 starters on offense and defense, along with 61 letterwinners for the 2022 season. Gaither will run behind a veteran offensive line that returns six men who gained significant starting experience last season. The Runnin' Bulldogs open the season on Thursday, September 1 against Limestone. Kickoff in Spangler Stadium is set for 7 pm (ESPN+).

Season tickets are on sale and can be purchased online here.