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Dakereon Joyner 'excited' for role this season

DSC_0394by:Joe Macheca•08/28/22•

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Dakereon Joyner meets with fans at the GamecockCentral kickoff party. (Photo: Joe Macheca)

Dakereon Joyner might not know what it looks like week to week. But the receiver is looking forward to doing it all for South Carolina this season.

After a whirlwind four years at South Carolina, culminating in his Duke’s Mayo Bowl MVP performance, he’s excited to see how his role progresses in 2022.

“I’m excited for it. I’m ready to see where they’ve got going for game one. Not that it’s a secret or anything that I play quarterback,” Joyner said.

Last season Joyner played in all 13 games, primarily at receiver. He finished third on the team in catches (24) with 221 yards and a score.

The former high school quarterback spent his first few seasons bouncing from quarterback to receiver back to quarterback and back to receiver.

There was talk last preseason about the Joyner package at quarterback. But instability at quarterback forced him to stay at receiver until the bowl game.

With Spencer Rattler in the fold now, it could give Marcus Satterfield more time to dial in on a full-fledged package with Joyner behind center.

“We have more stability at the quarterback position with no one being hurt,” Joyner said. “Spencer being healthy, knock on wood um this is going to give us a chance to go do great things.”

His coming-out party came in the bowl game. He completed all nine of his attempt for 160 yards to pair with 64 rushing yards on 10 carries.

Because of his ability to play quarterback, he could even fit into the depth chart there if needed behind Rattler or Luke Doty.

Or the Gamecocks could opt to use him in the backfield or split out wide, able to make plays in space.

Joyner only smiled when asked what his role might look like in the season opener, mentioning it isn’t a big secret.

“I mean I don’t think I’m going get too personal,” he said, smiling. “Coach has got a plan. I’m just here to execute that plan whenever my number is called wherever,” Joyner said.

Joyner is one of the vocal leaders on the team. So much so Beamer selected Joyner as one of the team’s participants at SEC media days in July.

The team needs Joyner for his play and his leadership abilities for South Carolina to take another step after last year’s seven-win season.  

South Carolina begins its season on Sept. 3 against Georgia State (7:30 p.m., ESPN Plus).

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