How Vicari Swain is using the offseason to learn and grow
After seeing limited playing time last fall, redshirt freshman Vicari Swain has made it a point to use the offseason as a time to grow and develop as a player. Now, heading into his second season as a Gamecock, Swain is competing for a starting role at defensive back.
“Competeting between all the DBs in rotation that obviously we’re trying to get on the other side of OD (Fortune),” Swain said. “But other than that I mean spring has been going good.”
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Swain made just two solo tackles last season, both of which came against Furman. Despite not getting extended playing time, Swain took note of how his older teammates were playing.
“I would say probably learning how the older guys play,” Swain said. “Watching Cell (Dial) and OD, they’re kind of my inspiration of how I play DB.”
In order to be the best, you have to beat the best. And Swain made it a priority to compete every day in practice. Learning from veterans in the locker room helped take Swain’s game to the next level.
“I always tried to go against the best so I could try to be at my best and learning from them kind of boosted my game a little bit,” Swain said.
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Adapting to life at USC posed a struggle for Swain as he was transitioning positions. Swain, who also played wide receiver at one point, moved to defensive back once coming to USC.
“When I first got here in the summer I would say it was kind of hard for me to adapt from being a full-time receiver to a fill-time corner. But I mean just trusting Coach G and he was able to tell me how being a DB versus receiver and how it’s different.”
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Defensive back coach Torrian Gray has pushed Swain to be the best he can be physically and mentally. Ahead of the spring game, he will have the opportunity to showcase what he has learned so far.
“He really, really preaches on consistency and not making mental errors a lot,” he said. “I think I would be able to be on the field as much as I would like.”
