Elite 11 finals invite big for Joyner proving doubters wrong

Quarterback Dakereon Joyner of Fort Dorchester knows there are plenty of skeptics in the public regarding his ability to play quarterback at the highest level, including college football coaches. Joyner hears them, but he doesn’t listen to them. And he believes his invitation this week to the Elite 11 finals in Los Angeles in early June is proof positive that he was right to stick to his guns and insist colleges only recruit him for quarterback.

“I’m excited to be a part of it, ready to showcase my talent,” Joyner said. “I think it proves that I am (a pure quarterback). To all the doubters that always said I wasn’t a quarterback, I think this proves it. I just want to earn my invite to Oregon when I get to LA. I have to be one of the best 12 out of 24.”

Joyner earned the invitation earlier this month at a regional competition in Charlotte. That day, Joyner said, he was on his game throwing the football and impressed the scouts with his skills.

“The zip I have on the ball and my smooth footwork,” he said was what caught the eye of the scouts. “I didn’t do as well as I should, I didn’t have the best day, but I guess I performed well enough to earn my invite. I’m grateful.”

Joyner had the sixth highest rating for the Charlotte competition at 104.1. That’s the third highest posted rating of the 19 quarterbacks selected thus far. Clemson commitment Trevor Lawrence of Cartersville, Ga., who also is headed to Los Angeles and competed in Charlotte, had a rating that day of 90.69. Gamecocks target Tyler Shough of Chandler, Ariz., also has an invitation and had a rating at his competition of 87.66.

Joyner has already made his college choice and notified the school of his decision. He narrowed his choices to USC and N.C. State and will make a public commitment June 18.

This story was originally published May 16, 2017 at 5:19 PM.