Back to back: Vicari Swain earns SEC honors yet again

Vicari Swain has done it again. Not just with his play on the field, but he’s continuing to rack up accolades for the second straight week to begin this season.

After being named the SEC Special Teams Player of the Week last week, Swain was once again the recipient of those honors on Monday after his Week 2 performance.

Swain returned not one but two punts for touchdowns in South Carolina’s 38-10 win over SC State on Saturday. He became the first Gamecock to return two punts (or kicks of any kind) for touchdowns in a game.

Swain has three punt return scores in two games this year and has now tied the school record for the most in a season, becoming the first to do so since Dickie Harris in 1971. He has tied Ace Sanders for second on the school’s career mark for most punt returns for touchdowns with three, one behind Harris.

With the Gamecocks trailing 3-0 midway through the second quarter, Swain’s first punt return touchdown went for 65 yards. As he hauled in SC State’s 44-yard punt, he spun out of a tackle and took off towards the right side of the field. With a convoy of as many as six blockers in front, he was able to maneuver and fall into the end zone to give his team the lead.

“They blocked their tails off for me to be able to even score,” Swain said of his teammates on the play. “I’d say it was a huge factor because we needed a spark when we were down. Like I said, somebody had to spark the team.”

A few minutes later, Swain caught lightning in a bottle for a second time. Maurice Brown II came running in off the left side and got a hand on SC State’s next punt, which rolled to the 42-yard line. Swain picked the ball up and was off to the races as he scored his second touchdown of the night.

The interesting part about that play was the foresight and awareness Swain showed. After Brown’s blocked punt, the ball rolled on the ground and went off an SC State player. Meaning Swain knew he could touch the loose ball, and no matter what happened, it was going to be South Carolina’s football.

“When it was blocked, it’s a rule called no consequence,” Swain explained. “So if it hits off the opponent and they don’t pick it up, I mean, I can do whatever. If I fumble, whatever, it’s still going to be our ball. So I used my situational awareness and picked it up and scored.”

Swain, in his third season with the program, has arguably been South Carolina’s most productive player so far this season. In his five punt return opportunities, he’s run for 187 yards and averaged 37.4 yards per return with three touchdowns.

His primary position is defensive back, where he’s made one tackle in each of the first two games. He also forced a fumble in Saturday’s win. But moving forward, Swain will continue to be South Carolina’s punt returner, according to head coach Shane Beamer.

The Gamecocks will turn their attention to Week 3 and SEC play starting this weekend. They will be at home on Saturday to take on Vanderbilt. Kickoff will be at 7:45 p.m. on SEC Network from Williams-Brice Stadium.

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