QB Dakereon Joyner gets ‘a different vibe from South Carolina’

Class of 2018 quarterback Dakereon Joyner of Fort Dorchester attended South Carolina’s pool party and cookout Saturday. On a scale of 1-10, he rated the experience an “11.”

Joyner said the time was filled with fun and games, from when he registered at the indoor practice facility to activities on the practice field and finally the cookout and party at the Thurmond Wellness and Fitness Center.

“Every time I come up here I enjoy myself,” Joyner said. “It’s a great vibe around here. Spurs up.”

Besides all of that, Joyner had some recruiting talk time with head coach Will Muschamp and others, and they let him know again what they think of him.

“Their message was, ‘We want you to be the face of the program and the quarterback at South Carolina,’ ” Joyner said. “Every coach says we want you to be the face of our program and probably tells every recruit that, but I get a different vibe from South Carolina. It’s kind of different to me. I feel like I can come in and compete as a freshman.”

Joyner visited NC State on Friday and he is now finished with summer visits. He has narrowed his list to five but is not ready to reveal those schools.

“Those five schools I feel like I have the strongest communication with the coaches,” he said. “My five schools I’ve narrowed it down to, communication played a big part in it.”

Joyner laughed when asked if USC was in his top five, saying he just can’t confirm anything at this point. As for Clemson, Joyner is maintaining his interest for now even though the Tigers won’t recruit him strictly as a quarterback. They see him as an athlete, and Joyner has said he only wants to play quarterback in college.

“I don’t know, I really don’t know,” Joyner said. “I was head over heels for Clemson. If you had asked me I would say I was close to committing a couple of times but they took a couple of 2017 QBs and I still have the offer as an athlete. I guess they see different in me and I can understand that. They are still a great program. They might offer me as a quarterback as the season progresses if I have a great season.”

Joyner won’t make his commitment until Father’s Day next June.

This story was originally published July 23, 2016 at 4:44 PM.