Dakereon Joyner returning to South Carolina in 2023
Dakereon Joyner will play a final season in 2023 for the South Carolina Gamecocks, he told GamecockCentral.com on Sunday.
“God blessed me with another year. If God blessed me with it, why not use it?” Joyner said in an interview sponsored by Garnet Trust. “It won’t do anything but benefit me personally, help accomplish things as a team as well.”
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A fan favorite among Gamecocks, Joyner just completed his fifth year in the program. He has put down roots in the Columbia area, another reason that he wants to utilize his last year on the field.
Said Joyner: “It really comes down to my family as well. My girl’s here, my baby’s going to be due in March. I have a house here. I’m comfortable here, I’m stable here. I just want to be as present as possible for my daughter when she comes in March. It’s a very important time.”
Joyner said that he has spoken with head coach Shane Beamer as well as strength and conditioning head Luke Day about his choice.
“Coach (Beamer) wants me here. Everybody wants me here from a leader standpoint and athletic standpoint, being able to do a bunch of different things,” Joyner explained. “(We) just talked about me being utilized more for sure next year. I’ve just got to do my part and stay healthy and make sure I’m available for my teammates.”
The former Fort Dorchester high school standout has spent time at quarterback and wide receiver, in addition to work on special teams, during his career at South Carolina.
He started at quarterback in USC’s Duke’s Mayo Bowl win against UNC in 2021 and walked away with bowl MVP honors.
This season, Joyner was not able to fully capitalize on the momentum created after that performance. He’s looking forward to doing so in his sixth year.
“I wasn’t healthy the first half of the year to be able to do all the things I wanted to do. I just wasn’t capable of doing it from a health standpoint,” he said. “By the time I got healthy, I was kind of behind the eight ball. Toward the end of the year, I finally was able to get back rolling, get my feet back underneath me.”
Beamer has tabbed Dowell Loggains to be the new Gamecocks offensive coordinator beginning in 2023. While in-depth conversations have not yet taken place, they should soon.
“Our new OC is going to make sure I’m a priority in the offense going forward. Anywhere to help us win, wherever that may be, whichever role,” said Joyner. “Whenever he came in, my decision was up in the air. I didn’t want to tell him I’m doing one thing and not end up coming back. He was so excited to meet me in person, told me we were going to have a lot of fun. I haven’t sat down with him yet to talk about specifics.”
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Joyner has been one of the faces of name, image, and likeness (NIL) initiatives as a student-athlete, and because of his character and recognition has found many opportunities for himself in Columbia.
“People want to work with someone that’s a good character guy that will help benefit their business, make it a two way street” he said. “Who I am allows me to benefit from NIL as much as possible. It’s definitely been great for me and my family and I believe it will continue to be. NIL, it’s a blessing, helped me a thousand percent. That goes back to how I carry myself.”
Despite a disappointing end to the 2022 season with a narrow Gator Bowl loss, Joyner feels the program continues to make progress.
Said Joyner: “Taking stepping stones, building, continue to strive for better things and greater things. We have to do a better job of being more consistent. You see what we did in year one, what we did in year two. Year three’s going to be even greater. We’re going to trust our coaches, trust the plan.”
As the Gamecocks’ head coach, Shane Beamer helped to instill confidence and positivity in his team. upon his arrival. That, too, weighed into Joyner’s final choice.
“The vibe around the building is so positive, makes you want to be here. That’s another reason I want to come back,” he said. “I’m happy here. I actually enjoy playing football now. I enjoy being around the building. It makes you not want to leave. I can’t wait to see what we’re going to continue to do. Coach Beamer has the program going in the right direction, everybody can see that.”
