Why Dakereon Joyner’s role has been limited this season with South Carolina
The Duke’s Mayo Bowl is only nine months past — but it feels like much further back.
Receiver Dakereon Joyner played quarterback that December day and finished the win over North Carolina a perfect 9 of 9 passing for 160 yards and a touchdown en route to game MVP honors.
Through two games this fall, though, Joyner has barely registered a blip in South Carolina’s offensive equation.
“It’s not like we have forgotten what he did in the bowl game,” Beamer said Tuesday. “He showed that he can play quarterback at a high level in that bowl game. He wasn’t healthy in that first game and he was healthier last Saturday against Arkansas.”
Joyner’s unique career in Columbia is well-documented.
He came to South Carolina as a prolific quarterback recruit out of Fort Dorchester High School. His career then bounced between time at quarterback and receiver before a full-time move to receiver last year.
Joyner notched his brightest moment as a Gamecock in the bowl game, earning a surprise start at quarterback. It was followed by an offseason filled with name, image and likeness deals and the thought that he could add another dimension to the Gamecocks’ offense in 2022.
But after playing one snap in the season opener against Georgia State and registering 17 plays against Arkansas, per Pro Football Focus, it’s not altogether clear how or where he’s going to factor in down the stretch. Joyner is practicing this week, Beamer said.
“When he is healthy, he’s a fantastic leader,” Beamer said. “He’s a really good football player that’s a valuable member of our special teams and then a valuable member of our offense — whether it’s wide receiver, whether it’s quarterback, whatever. He’s shown that he can do that and we need to continue to find ways to keep him involved, have him involved.”
South Carolina is deeper than it was at receiver a year ago. Last year’s leading receiver Josh Vann is back in the fold. The Gamecocks also added Corey Rucker (who’s been injured to this point) and Antwane “Juice” Wells to the equation. Oklahoma import Austin Stogner and do-it-all tight end Jaheim Bell are factors as well.
“Frankly, we’ve got more depth,” Beamer said as to why South Carolina has taken a statistical step forward so far in 2022. “We’ve got a really experienced quarterback who continues to get more comfortable with what we’re doing each week. We’ve got more experienced running backs. We’ve got more depth at wide receiver.”
“... We’ve got more weapons around the guys than what we went into the season with last year at this time,” Beamer continued. “For us, it’s just continuing to develop depth and continue to get more and more confident and more and more comfortable with what we’re doing.”
This story was originally published September 13, 2022 at 2:46 PM.
