Inside walk-on Parker Lawson’s journey from USC club football to the real deal
Coming out of Lexington High School, Parker Lawson had garnered some attention from colleges for his skills on the gridiron — but not much.
The offensive lineman took some time to develop for head coach Perry Woolbright and the Wildcats, but eventually worked his way from a rotational piece to a full-time starter by the time he reached his senior season.
“Parker has always been a hard worker,” Woolbright said. “… He was a guy that kind of developed late. He kind of grew early. High school kids that grow really tall early and stuff like that, sometimes it’s kind of like a baby giraffe trying to learn to walk.”
By the time his high school career came to an end, Lawson hadn’t been swayed by the discussions with smaller schools like Erskine.
There was something else he’d decided on.
He hatched a plan to follow in the footsteps of his father, Jason, and was going to attempt to walk on and play for Shane Beamer and the South Carolina football team.
“He had several Division Two options. … I think he listened to a few of them, talked to a few of them but he kind of just always kept that goal of wanting to go walk on (at) South Carolina,” Woolbright said.
Lawson knew he wanted to attend USC for college anyway and if there was a chance to continue his football career, why not take it?
“I had already kind of figured out that I wanted to walk on here because my dad played here back in the day,” Lawson said. “So kind of a legacy, family-type thing. And I don’t live far from here, being from Lexington, so that’s kind of my plan all along. I knew I wanted to go to school here for, I was nursing, now I’m public health, and walking on was just a benefit. … I kind of had my mind set on doing it. And if it worked out, it works out. If not, I’m still going to school here.”
All that happened nearly two years ago and now Lawson is entering his redshirt sophomore season with the Gamecocks.
How club football bridged the gap
When Lawson arrived on campus in the fall of 2023, he had to find something to fill his time. The earliest he could try out for Beamer’s team was in February 2024, so he needed something to keep his body and mind in football shape.
His solution? Join the club football team.
“It was something to do,” Lawson said. “… For me, it was fun because I was a lot bigger than the other guys, so I can just screw around.”
Lawson, who checks in at 6-foot-4, 300 pounds, said he played in about five games and was with the team for about a month and a half. He added it was a bit unorganized, but he still generally benefited from the experience.
“It helped keep me sharp on stuff,” Lawson said. “… It’s a lot different but it kept me in a little bit of game shape.”
Lawson also said he worked out “nonstop” at Athlete’s Arena in Irmo for months to get faster and stronger in preparation for South Carolina’s walk-on tryout.
The tryout came during the second semester of Lawson’s freshman year at South Carolina during February 2024.
Lawson said the tryout itself focused a lot on conditioning and he felt he had a leg up on the competition thanks to his work with the club team and at Athlete’s Arena. Lawson said he also talked with some of the coaches prior and sent some his high school tape.
South Carolina offensive line coach Lonnie Teasley said he hadn’t heard of Lawson before, but he stood out at the tryout.
“He moved well for a bigger guy,” Teasley recalled. “(He) had a good, strong lower body. But just his movement skills were a big thing.”
Lawson left the tryout feeling confident he’d done enough to make the team. Sure enough, three weeks later he got the call confirming it.
Full-circle moment for the Lawson family
When Jason Lawson received the call that his son had made the team, a wave of emotions hit.
Sure, those emotions were mainly because it’s his child. But it’s also because Jason Lawson was a walk-on at South Carolina himself.
“You’ve seen a kid work real hard and you’ve been there yourself,” Jason Lawson said. “It’s all kinds of floods of emotions, to be honest with you. It’s excitement, you’re proud — man, you can’t believe how proud you are.”
Jason Lawson walked on at South Carolina in 1993 after finishing up his days at what is now Union County High School.
After a redshirt year, he played some tight end and tackle for the Gamecocks until 1997. Lawson worked his way into a rotational role and even into the starting lineup during his time with South Carolina. He was also a member of the squad to win the program’s first bowl game in 1994.
When Parker made the team, Jason was elated. He was proud of the work his son had put in, but he was quick to emphasize Parker’s hard work wasn’t anywhere near done.
“When I had that conversation with him, I wanted to make sure he knew how proud I was, but also making sure he knew, this is awesome and you’ve got an opportunity very few young men get ever,” Jason Lawson recalled. “There’s a lot of young men in this country that would love to play Division I SEC football, and even step on the practice field, and put the jersey on. You got that opportunity. Now let’s see what you do with it.”
Parker didn’t see any action in his first season with the team in 2024, but he still will tell you he’s living out a dream being on the team. Teasley told The State he’s done a good job during his time with the Gamecocks and has been gaining weight.
Jason Lawson said he can’t even begin to describe what it means to see his son on the sideline in Williams-Brice wearing the same uniform he wore nearly 30 years ago.
“I love it,” Lawson said. “I love seeing him wear the jersey, going to some of the games last year where he was able to dress out, seeing him run out to “2001,” seeing him celebrating with his teammate … seeing “Sandstorm” going off and he and some of the other guys who may not be playing, they’re on the sidelines trying to get the fans up, swinging the towels, giving high fives, dancing around, keeping the team up. Those guys are out there, putting in the effort like everybody else.”
This story was originally published August 19, 2025 at 7:00 AM.
