Dakereon Joyner sums up his role in 2019: ‘It was something that had to be done’
Walk into South Carolina football practice, and that No. 7 on the Gamecocks offense is no longer a yellow jersey.
Dakereon Joyner is in the regular offensive garnet, catching balls with the receivers instead of throwing them as a quaterback. It was supposed to happen a season ago, instead of him getting stretched between two positions while battling injuries.
But as he looks back, Joyner didn’t have much in the way of regrets about his odd second season on campus.
“It was something that had to be done,” Joyner said. “I’m definitely the team-first guy, I had to contribute in every way possible. That’s what it was. That’s what I had to play last year, but I think this year should be, I should have more opportunities this year.”
This is a player who once said he came to South Carolina to play quarterback and that he could have gone elsewhere to play another position. What made him reconsider that stance?
“This is home,” Joyner said. “I always knew I wanted to be here.”
His process of transitioning to receiver is still in its infancy. He got some work there last year, but it wasn’t dedicated. He’s been watching teammate Shi Smith, learning the basics and route running. He looks up to former teammate Deebo Samuel, who made the jump to the NFL and shined as a rookie with a Super Bowl participant (setting the franchise record for rookie receiving yards).
Joyner added that receivers coach Bryan McClendon is helping him along. He joked there’s a lot more running in practice as a receiver.
He also had things cut short in 2019 by a hamstring issue that limited his practice time followed by a concussion late in the season. And his coach is still lamenting that lost time.
“He’s done a nice job at receiver,” Muschamp said. “Had a big third down conversion on Friday. Continues to do a good job. It’s all new for him. That’s the frustrating part about last fall. We made that move, he could have had the entire fall to go through and be a receiver and learn all the different things you’ve got to learn at the new position. It’s all new for him and he’s doing a nice job with it.”
Returning starting QB Ryan Hilinski said he’s also building a rapport with Joyner, who lost a battle for the No. 2 spot with him last August.
Joyner is also now a part of an offense that might be able to do some creative things with him. New coordinator Mike Bobo is instilling some under-center looks in the offense, and that can create different options when it comes to jet sweep looks.
A year ago, his Colorado State attack let speedster Dante Wright work on the edge in those packages, and he averaged 12.6 yards per carry. How Joyner will be used isn’t yet set (he’s playing the slot and outside), but he’s liking the new scheme he’s in.
“With his concepts, he does a lot of cool stuff with outside and inside,” Joyner said. “So that’s one thing about this offense. You never know what’s coming.”
