Gamecocks put walk-on, former transfer on scholarship for senior season

Jaylan Foster has long been a figure in South Carolina’s football practices, a guy who came from a smaller school and worked on the scout team, impressing coaches.

It turned out the coaches were impressed enough to put the Byrnes High School product on scholarship.

Gamecocks coach Will Muschamp announced the news Tuesday ahead of the season opener against Tennessee. Foster is in Year 4 with the program after transferring form Gardner-Webb.

Foster played in three games last season. He was the Big South Conference Freshman of the Year in 2016 before transferring. He had 45 tackles including 2 1/2 tackles for loss, five pass interceptions and nine pass breakups.

Foster sat out 2017 and then didn’t play in a game the next two years. He was the Scout Team Award winner for special teams last year and after going in the transfer portal during the offseason, he returned to the roster.

This story was originally published September 22, 2020 at 1:00 PM.

Ben Breiner

The State

Covers the South Carolina Gamecocks, primarily football, with a little basketball, baseball or whatever else comes up. Joined The State in 2015. Previously worked at Muncie Star Press and Greenwood Index-Journal. Picked up feature writing honors from the APSE, SCPA and IAPME at various points. A 2010 University of Wisconsin graduate. Support my work with a digital subscription