Clemson commit Jake Venables, USC commit Dakereon Joyner forming a bond at Shrine Bowl
South Carolina quarterback commit Dakereon Joyner will be competing against Clemson linebacker commit Jake Venables in the Palmetto Bowl for the next several years. But right now the two are building a friendship as members of the South Carolina Shrine Bowl team.
Venables and Joyner did not have a relationship prior to this week. In fact, Joyner had to ask a teammate who Venables was the first day the teams arrived in Spartanburg. But they have been hanging out away from the field and impressing one another on the practice field at Dorman.
“That’s my boy,” Joyner said following Wednesday morning’s practice. “Jake is a different kind of guy. He’s a funny guy. We both are funny guys. But he’s a good character guy as well. He’s just a good person.”
Venables has gotten a preview of what he will face when Joyner plays for the Gamecocks and is expecting a difficult challenge.
Joyner, who was named Mr. Football in South Carolina for 2017, has impressed with his quickness and running ability, as well as his passing ability.
“He’s dangerous. He can hurt you with his legs or his arm. He knows how to read defenses well. And he’s even a better person too off the field,” Venables said. “We’ve built our relationship together. Him, me and (Derion Kendrick), I feel like we’ve all gotten pretty close.”
Kendrick is also committed to Clemson, and Venables is excited for the two to be teammates in college.
He also is hoping to be college teammates with five-star defensive end KJ Henry. Henry, who is playing for the North Carolina team in the Shrine Bowl, has a final five of Clemson, South Carolina, Virginia Tech, Georgia and Alabama.
“It’s just been a couple of jabs here and there, like, ‘You need to come down to Clemson’ or ‘You’d look better in Clemson orange,’ ” Venables said.
It was an interesting time around the Venables household last week as rumors were flying that Brent Venables, Jake’s dad, could be a candidate for head coaching jobs in the SEC.
Jake tuned out the rumors for the most part and said it wasn’t talked about much around the house.
“I wasn’t too worried about it,” Jake said. “The biggest thing he told me was we’re not really worrying about it right now. Just for me and my brother and mom, for everybody to stay focused on what we’ve got going on now.”
This story was originally published December 13, 2017 at 4:31 PM with the headline "Clemson commit Jake Venables, USC commit Dakereon Joyner forming a bond at Shrine Bowl."