Will Dakereon Joyner be the next Michael Vick?

10 things you should know about Fort Dorchester High quarterback Dakereon Joyner, who committed to South Carolina on Sunday.

1. Why announce on Father’s Day?

He chose Father’s Day to honor his late father. He was 9 when his father died.

2. The finalists

He chose between South Carolina and N.C. State. “At those two schools, I really feel at home,” Joyner said. “I love the coaching staffs and my chances of playing early.”

3. The stats

He was the Gatorade Player of the Year in South Carolina last season as a junior, passing for 3,642 yards and 44 TDs and rushing for 1,089 yards and 12 TDs.

4. The background

He was offered by Steve Spurrier’s USC staff after his eighth-grade year, and Will Muschamp and quarterbacks coach Kurt Roper maintained pursuit.

5. Be like Mike

He says he models his game after Michael Vick. He’s a former running back and has run a 4.64-second 40-yard dash.

6. Can he pass?

He considers himself a passer before anything else. “If you ask any college coach, I’m a passer before a runner,” he said.

7. Where he ranks

Joyner has four stars and is ranked by the 247Sports composite as the No. 10 dual-threat quarterback in the Class of 2018.

8. He’s elite

He was invited to the Elite 11 finals after performing at The Opening’s regional stop in Charlotte.

9. High grade

Joyner was one of 33 out of more than 350 to receive a Nike rating above 100, a measure that grades a prospect’s athleticism.

10. USC’s pitch

Muschamp made Joyner one of his top QB targets. “Come run your state, stay true to your state, come be the man in your state,” Joyner said of the USC coach’s sales pitch.

This story was originally published June 19, 2017 at 5:00 PM with the headline "Will Dakereon Joyner be the next Michael Vick?."