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South Carolina, Panus family award second Jake Panus Walk-On Scholarship

UVA BIO PICby: Mike Uva08/28/22Mike_Uva
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Stephen Panus (middle) stands with this year's recipient of the Jake Panus Walk-On Scholarship, Payton Mangrum, and last year's recipient Matthew Bailey (Photo: Stephen Panus)

The memory of Jake Panus lives on in South Carolina.

For a second straight year, the Gamecocks and Stephen Panus have awarded a scholarship to a South Carolina walk-on in honor of his late son, Jake.

This year’s recipient is third-year wide receiver Payton Mangrum. Mangrum becomes the second Gamecock to receive the honor. He joins long snapper Matthew Bailey who was selected last year.

“Payton is a perfect fit for the Jake Panus Walk-On Football Scholarship,” Stephen Panus told Gamecock Central. “Just like Matthew Bailey, he’s a hard worker on and off the field, an exemplary student, and an inspiration for many. Jake would be so proud, as are we, of Payton’s work ethic resulting in his well-deserved scholarship. We look forward to seeing Payton contribute towards the success of the team and university this year and beyond,”

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The Jake Panus Walk-on Football Endowed Scholarship was recently established. According to the University, it “provides a walk-on football player who, through hard work and perseverance, earns an athletic scholarship and contributes toward the success of the Gamecock football team, the University and the community at large. The student-athlete will share Jake’s leadership attributes while demonstrating a motivated work ethic, fierce determination, team-first mentality, and grit on the football field.”

Jake was a 16-year-old resident of Southport, Ct. He grew up sporting a South Carolina jersey at a young age and dreamed of one day playing for the Gamecocks. That dream was tragically taken away when he lost in life in a senseless DUI accident on Aug. 9, 2020.

“I want you to imagine a boy who had a dream,” Stephen said last year when he addressed USC’s team. “That dream was to attend the University of South Carolina and to be a Gamecock. He was committed, determined, had passion and love. (Jake) was a boy who had a heart, a selfless heart. He had a lot of courage and he had the will of a champion. A boy that would’ve done anything to be in this room here today with you guys. A boy who bleed garnet and black.”

With the help of Shane Beamer and South Carolina, Jake’s memory is alive and well.

To donate to the Jake Panus Walk-on Football Endowed Scholarship in an effort to help future Gamecock walk-ons and keep Jake’s memory alive, click HERE.

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