Watch celebratory moment as South Carolina veteran walk-on earns scholarship
South Carolina defensive back King-Demenian Ford is now on scholarship, the Gamecocks announced in a heartwarming video Friday on social media.
The redshirt junior is in his third year with the program, having walked on after enrolling at USC as a freshman in 2020. He has played on special teams and at safety. Ford earned his first letter last season after appearing in seven games, where he logged two tackles and blocked two punts.
Ford (6-2, 209) is a local guy, having played quarterback and wide receiver at Blythewood High School. He also competed in track and field for the Bengals.
When coach Shane Beamer told Ford he was now on scholarship during Friday’s walk-through practice, his eyes got wide and his jaw dropped as teammates swarmed him to celebrate the news.
Then Ford called his dad.
“Hey, pops,” Ford said on the phone with his father. “I’ll be able to pay you back for school.”
“Whatchu mean?” his father asked.
“They put me on scholarship today,” Ford replied, beaming.
“Wow,” his dad said. “Yes!”
Ford was awarded the Jake Panus Walk-On Football Scholarship. He is the third athlete to earn this incentive along with Payton Mangrum and Matthew Bailey. Panus dreamed of attending the University of South Carolina and was a devout Gamecocks fan, according to the endowment’s website. The scholarship was created by Panus’ family in his honor after he died in a car accident the age of 16.
“On behalf of my family, we’re proud to see King Ford rewarded with the well-deserved Jake Panus Walk On Football Scholarship,” Stephen Panus, Jake’s father, said in a statement. “His work ethic, team-first mentality, grit and joy are reminiscent of Jake, and it brings us much joy to welcome King to the family. We look forward to watching King continue to make plays on the field for the Gamecocks this season and to represent the University of South Carolina proudly off the field. Being able to be present at practice today and witness the pure joy on King’s face when he learned the news is meaningful.”
This story was originally published August 25, 2023 at 12:25 PM.
