It took five years for USC kicker William Joyce to start. Here’s why he waited
Patience is a rarity in today’s college football landscape. In the age of NIL deals and transfer portal opportunities galore, it’s easy for any player to decide a situation isn’t right, that they don’t want to wait their turn or that they simply want to be somewhere else.
Gamecocks kicker William Joyce had that choice as he waited five years for his turn, a turn that didn’t come until Sunday against Virginia Tech at the start of his fifth season with South Carolina.
Even after losing out on the kicking job in 2024 and graduating from USC in May, he stuck around. Why? Because for Joyce, a Spartanburg product, kicking for the Gamecocks meant that much to him.
“This place is my home,” he said. “I love it here. I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.”
Joyce revealed that he nearly won the starting role in 2024. The job, instead, went to now-graduate Alex Herrera, who went 15 for 21 on field goals last season. The 22-year-old Joyce, who is still a walk-on for the Gamecocks, said losing out on the job didn’t discourage him from enrolling in graduate school at USC and trying his luck for 2025.
“I just kept working my way up during the season last year, just trying to keep putting good reps on tape and then kept it going this spring,” Joyce said. “I knew I had a chance again.”
A chance, yes, but not a guarantee. The Gamecocks’ kicking competition, which featured Joyce, USC punter Mason Love and others, ran through the week of practice ahead of the Virginia Tech game. In fact, Joyce wasn’t told he got the job until pregame Sunday.
He got off to a strong start against the Hokies, making his only field goal attempt from 27 yards and going a perfect 2 for 2 on extra point attempts.
“I was really excited when I found out. It just felt like a big relief that a lot of years of hard work worked out,” Joyce said.
Gamecocks head coach Shane Beamer said the final decision came down to the last practice Friday before the season opener. After a week of kicking where Beamer said he’d “wished had been a little bit better,” he and special teams coach Joe DeCamillis decided to make the final practice a game simulation for the kickers in order to make the final call.
“When we met as a staff Sunday morning we confirmed all that with Joe,” Beamer said. “They were out there Sunday, and [Joe] let them know at whatever point he felt was best to let those guys know.”
Beamer said he’s proud of Joyce’s growth over the five years he’s been with the program and is excited to see that growth continue in 2025.
“William’s always been a talented kicker. ... He’s had a role in this team in previous years and obviously his role now is bigger than it’s been,” he said. “He’s earned it.”
This story was originally published September 3, 2025 at 8:06 AM.
