Dakereon Joyner named South Carolina’s Mr. Football

Fort Dorchester High quarterback Dakereon Joyner added another one of the state’s top honors Saturday.

Joyner was named the state’s Mr. Football in a ceremony at Touchstone Energy’s North-South Football game. The South Carolina commitment was named the Palmetto Champions Back of the Year last week and was SC Gatorade Player of Year last season.

Joyner is the ninth future Gamecock to win the honor and first since Shaq Roland (2011), who later transferred.

“Some former legends have won this award like Marcus Lattimore, Jadeveon Clowney, Stephon Gilmore. And they all went to South Carolina,” Joyner said. “So I’m blessed and honored to win this award.”

Joyner was quick to give credit to others who helped him to get to this point, including teammates, coaches and support staff at Fort Dorchester and also his family. Joyner’s late grandfather got him started playing the game when he was a young child.

“Football helps me get my mind off a lot of things,” Joyner said. “I have been through a lot in my past but it has become my outlet.”

Other Mr. Football finalists were Newberry’s Amir Abrams, Chapman quarterback Colton Bailey, Spartanburg linebacker Connor Shugart and Spring Valley linebacker Channing Tindall.

This season, Joyner threw for 2,376 yards and rushed for 980 yards with 49 total TDs in helping Fort Dorchester to the Class 5A Lower State championship. For his career, he threw for 9,745, rushed for 3,324 with 157 total touchdowns.

Joyner also was 40-3 as a starter in his career with his only losses coming against Dutch Fork.

Joyner will sign with USC on Dec. 20 and enroll in January. He will play in next week’s Shrine Bowl and in the Offense-Defense All-American Bowl in New Orleans on Dec. 30.

This story was originally published December 9, 2017 at 1:58 PM with the headline "Dakereon Joyner named South Carolina’s Mr. Football."