South Carolina defensive back retiring, joining coaching staff

It appears Jaylin Dickerson’s playing days at South Carolina football are over.

The oft-injured Dickerson is retiring from the sport and is set to join the Gamecocks’ coaching staff in some capacity, Gamecock Central confirmed Saturday. The State’s Ben Portnoy first reported the news.

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• Analysis: What does Jaylin Dickerson’s move into coaching role mean for the Gamecocks?

Dickerson’s path has been done before. Kiel Pollard spent time on the Gamecocks’ coaching staff after medically retiring a few years ago after a neck injury.

Dickerson never played a full season over his career with injuries derailing much of his time so far.

After being talked about as a potential starter in his first season, a season-ending nerve surgery ended things before they began. He played in 10 games the following year but missed the entire 2019 season after preseason hip surgery.

Dickerson played in eight games during the COVID-shortened season before playing seven this past year. His season ended prematurely again thanks to another injury after making five tackles.

Dickerson came to South Carolina as part of the 2017 class, a three-star prospect out of Southern Pines, N.C.’s Pinecrest High School.

Bio from South Carolina Athletics

2020 (Redshirt Sophomore)

Appeared in eight games… did not play against Vanderbilt or Kentucky… credited with 20 tackles… had 1.5 tackles for loss and a half sack and an interception… recorded a pair of tackles in the season opener against Tennessee, his first action since the Belk Bowl in 2018… had five tackles, including his first career tackle for loss at Florida… snagged his first interception in the win over Auburn… matched his season high with five stops at LSU… assisted on a half-sack against Georgia.

2019 (Redshirt Sophomore)

Redshirt sophomore safety who had hip surgery in June after a bone growth on the top of his femur protruded into the labrum… missed the entire 2019 campaign.

2018 (Redshirt Freshman)

Redshirt freshman who appeared in 10 games making 13 tackles… used primarily on special teams early in the season as he was continuing to work his way back from shoulder surgery… forced into a more significant role at safety in the Ole Miss game… played most of the second half and recorded a then-career-high four tackles… was a key contributor in the Florida game, tallying six tackles before leaving with a hamstring injury… missed the final three regular season games due to the injury, but returned to action in the Belk Bowl… did not participate in spring drills after undergoing shoulder surgery in August of 2017.

2017 (Freshman)

True freshman who enrolled at South Carolina in January and went through spring drills… listed with the second-team unit entering the fall… suffered an injury to a nerve in his shoulder during spring ball that affected the strength in his arm throughout the summer and into the start of fall camp… underwent season-ending surgery to repair the nerve damage in August… redshirted.

HIGH SCHOOL

Graduated from Pinecrest High School in Southern Pines, N.C. in December 2016… helped the Patriots to a 10-3 record and to the second round of the 4AA playoffs in his senior season… earned the conference Defensive Player of the Year accolades… coached by Chris Metzger… played in the Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas… a three-year starter and three-time all-conference performer… made 58 tackles and three interceptions as a sophomore, then earned first-team All-Southeastern 4-A Conference honors and All-Cape Fear region honors as a junior when he had 64 tackles, six tackles for loss and two INTs… rated the 27th-best player in the state and the 55th-best safety in the country by Rivals… ranked as the 37th-best player in North Carolina and the 93rd-best safety in the nation by 247Sports… ESPN considered him the 12th-best player in the state and the No. 42 “athlete” in the country… Scout listed him No. 120 among safeties in the country… also a standout in basketball.

PERSONAL

Jaylin M. Dickerson was born Nov. 2, 1998… scheduled to graduate in December with a degree in experimental psychology… mentors middle school students preaching teamwork and perseverance… spearheaded the Athletics Department’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee’s “Backpack Project” at W.G. Sanders Middle School in Columbia as a community engagement opportunity.

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