South Carolina getting key defensive piece back as linebacker JayR Johnson set to return
One of South Carolina football’s most talented young defenders will be back in Columbia in 2025.
Rising sophomore linebacker Fred “JayR” Johnson has signed a deal with Garnet Trust, the official NIL partner of the University of South Carolina, indicating a return to the Gamecocks. The good news for Gamecock fans surfaced on Wednesday afternoon.
The 6’4″, 240-pound linebacker saw most of his action this fall on special teams. However, he still got into several other games on defense despite playing in a loaded room that included seniors Demetrius Knight, Debo Williams, Bam Martin-Scott, and (for a short time) Bangally Kamara.
By the end of the 2024 season, Johnson was listed as a backup to Knight at the Mike linebacker spot. He logged five total tackles and a quarterback hurry during his true freshman campaign.
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Johnson signed with the Gamecocks as part of the 2024 South Carolina football recruiting class. He was an under-the-radar recruit but turned into a 4-star prospect after his USC commitment. His high school teammate Kendall Daniels is a 4-star Gamecock signee in the 2025 recruiting class.
With so much talent graduating from the Carolina linebacker room, Johnson could be the “next man up” for Clayton White’s defense. His combination of size, speed, and pass rush juice could provide the Gamecocks with exactly what they need at linebacker.
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Next fall will be Johnson’s true sophomore year as he saw snaps in all 12 games of the 2024 regular season.
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Fred “JayR” Johnson Bio from GamecocksOnline
True freshman linebacker who graduated at semester and enrolled at South Carolina in January… rangy, smooth, fast, and extremely talented… playmaker who can rush and cover… has a bright future… possible contributor early in his career at linebacker and on special teams.
HIGH SCHOOL
Graduated from Maury High School in Norfolk, Va. in December 2023… helped the Commodores to a perfect 15-0 record and a Virginia 5A state championship as a senior… named the Eastern District Defensive Player of the Year following his senior season… named first team all-state as a tight end and all-purpose on defense…selected to play in the 2024 All-American Bowl… coached by Dyrri McCain… full-time two-way player as a junior with extensive reps at receiver, edge, and linebacker… led Maury to a 10-2 record and a Virginia Class 5 state runner-up finish in 2022.
PERSONAL
Frederick B. “JayR” Johnson was born Dec. 14, 2005… is a sport and entertainment management major.
