Will Fred ‘JayR’ Johnson be South Carolina Gamecocks’ next great linebacker?
——This is part of a summer series. Leading up to the start of South Carolina’s 2025 season, The State is answering 25 of the most interesting questions surrounding the Gamecocks football team. This is No. 18 ——
Let’s backtrack one year.
South Carolina football was coming off a 2023 season where the Gamecocks went 5-7 and they seemed to have a better chance of the opposing quarterback tripping over himself then actually tackling him. South Carolina finished with just 21 sacks — tied with Vanderbilt for dead last in the SEC.
And the hope that could change in 2024 led you to freshman Dylan Stewart. Naturally. He arrived in Columbia as a top-15 recruit in the nation, a five-star who 247 Sports ranks as the sixth-best recruit to ever sign with South Carolina (which obviously only includes the internet-ranking era — sorry, Todd Ellis).
But if the recruiting rankings set expectations for Stewart, his teammates lifted the bar.
“Dylan Stewart, he’s an athletic freak,” edge Kyle Kennard said in March 2024. “I haven’t seen anything like it from a freshman.”
Neither had much of the SEC. Stewart finished his freshman season with 6.5 sacks, 10.5 tackles for loss and a trio of forced fumbles, such a dominant force that offensive tackles routinely had to hold or ask for help to stop him.
Coaches and players are often quick to temper expectations of youngsters. Think about the things head coach Shane Beamer said of another five star, WR Nyck Harbor, the past two years — that he’s making “progress” and still young, still learning the position, still developing into a college wide receiver.
Meanwhile, people inside USC saw Stewart for two months and seemed to know he was a star.
Which leads us to linebacker Fred “JayR” Johnson, who began to get the Stewart treatment before the bowl game last winter.
Said safety Nick Emmanwori: “He’s a dude that a lot of fans haven’t really seen, but in practice, he’s made some crazy plays.”
Added linebacker Demetrius Knight: “I believe this team will be following him the next few months here because of what he can do on the field.”
And this from linebacker Debo Williams: “I love how he’s able to grasp the playbook so fast. I’ve never really seen a freshman be able to do that.”
Johnson was a four-star prospect out of Norfolk, Virginia, when he signed with South Carolina in December 2023. But he showed up to a linebacker room full of veterans — namely Knight, Williams and Bam Martin-Scott. Per Pro Football Focus, that trio played over 1,600 combined snaps at LB while the freshman was in for just over 80.
But Johnson still played in all 13 games, carving out a role on special teams.
Now, with the Gamecocks top three linebackers from a year ago gone, the expectations are for Johnson to carry that room, to become the alpha in the middle of South Carolina’s defense and perhaps near 90 to 100 tackles this year.
Is that possible? Well, the people around South Carolina certainly think so. And for the Gamecocks to reach their potential this season, it might have to be.
The USC secondary returns almost everybody. The defensive front at least has Stewart. If Johnson can become that ultra-smart, ultra-athletic linebacker who runs the defense — think Knight from last year — South Carolina might be able to replicate its defensive success.
25 QUESTIONS FOR THE 2025 SEASON:
No. 25 — What South Carolina positions have the most question marks heading into season?
No. 24 — A Gamecocks victory over Va. Tech would be biggest season-opening win since when?
No. 23 — How will South Carolina’s QB room shake out in 2025 and beyond?
No. 22 — If USC beat Bama or LSU in ’24, would national conversation be different right now?
No. 21 — Can the Gamecocks’ offensive line take a step forward in 2025?
No. 20 — What former South Carolina football player will get his jersey retired next?
No. 19 — Can South Carolina get to the LSU game undefeated?
No. 18 — Will Fred Johnson be South Carolina’s next great LB?
No. 17 — What’s the most important stretch in USC’s 2025 schedule?
No. 16 — Can South Carolina’s defense stay elite despite all its roster turnover?
No. 15 — What South Carolina school records could be broken in 2025?
No. 14 — What’s the ceiling for USC’s running backs, with or without Rahsul Faison?
No. 13 — Can South Carolina’s special teams get back to Beamer Ball standard?
No. 12 — Have Gamecocks found right balance of high school football talent, transfers?
No. 11 — How will Shane Beamer go viral this year with South Carolina?
No. 10 — Is South Carolina too young at wide receiver?
No. 9 — Is this South Carolina’s easiest schedule in the Shane Beamer era?
No. 8 — Will there be noticeable changes in Mike Shula’s offense at South Carolina?
No. 7 — Can South Carolina football stay relatively healthy again in 2025?
No. 6 — Is this the last year for Williams-Brice Stadium as we know it?
No. 5 — What does a path to the playoff look like for South Carolina?
No. 4 — What happens if South Carolina football is no longer an underdog?
No. 3 — How would a 10-win season in 2025 shape Shane Beamer’s legacy in Columbia?
No. 2 — Can Dylan Stewart have a better season than Jadeveon Clowney did in 2012?
No. 1 — Can LaNorris Sellers become the best QB in South Carolina history?
This story was originally published July 2, 2025 at 7:00 AM.
