Confident, comfortable and coachable, Joyner finding his stride
SOUTH CAROLINA GAMECOCKS FOOTBALL
Speaking to the media for the first time since arriving at South Carolina last January, quarterback Dakereon Joyner can't help but laugh when asked how he's different as a player now compared to a year ago.
As the year turned from 2018 to 2019, what Joyner described as an "up and down" first year on campus came to a close.
"I never really got comfortable," Joyner said looking back at last year. "There was always something different being thrown at me. I guess I never got comfortable. I think I’m more comfortable now than any time before."
Joyner's first year at South Carolina blitzed him on and off the field, but the mobile quarterback has avoided the rush.
On the football side of things, Joyner was tasked with learning an offense that's completely different than any he's ever played in.
Off the field, Joyner says he had to adjust to college life and learning how to cram his academics into a four-day window during the season.
"I wouldn’t say a mental shift, (but) it was different for me," Joyner said. "I kept my faith and everything happens for a reason. I wasn’t discouraged. Like I told y’all before I signed, I’m coming here and going to do whatever the team needs me to do. I’m a team player."
And this spring, Joyner's teammates have taken notice of him.
A more comfortable, more confident player now, Joyner's teammates say they've seen a more patient, accurate passer, with a better understanding of the offense he's running.
"Seeing his growth from Year 1 to Year 2 has been the biggest eye-opening thing for me as far as how he's progressed," senior quarterback Jake Bentley said. "That was just real encouraging to me. ... I think the biggest thing is just overall confidence and I think that translates to every part of his game, confidence in throwing the ball, confidence in his reads, just all that's just improved, just because, one, he's got a better grasp of what he's doing and is really confident in his ability to go make plays. He's looked really good doing it."
The dual-threat quarterback who played in just one game last year, now finds himself in a tight battle with Ryan Hilinski and Jay Urich for the No. 2 quarterback spot.
Joyner's arm and feet were on full display in Saturday's Garnet and Black spring game as he showed marked improvement from a 1-for-5 passing performance last year.
The redshirt freshman completed 10-of-23 passes for 185 yards and a touchdown with one pick and added 66 more yards on the ground on eight carries this year.
Joyner felt his performance was "alright," crediting his teammates for boosting is play, but head coach Will Muschamp was encouraged by both Joyner and Hilinski.
"My biggest thing sitting from my standpoint was we didn't have any procedure issues, we didn't have any communication issues," Muschamp said. "We threw a good bit at them, we brought some corner pressure at times. They were right in their reads, in sight at times, and I think at the receiver position we were off, at times, but not on the same page. When you're playing that many guys, sometimes it's hard to get into a rhythm, but I thought both guys just managed our offense well. I thought both of them showed some really good things."
It's been a spring full of really good things for Joyner and more importantly a smooth start to his second year on campus.
"I’m a more comfortable player," Joyner said. "I got my head in the playbook. I got on film. I really dialed into what coach was trying to teach me. I think this time this year compared to last year I’m more coachable. I’m more coachable than I’ve ever been. I have great coaches around me and I appreciate all my coaches and my teammates."
ALSO SEE: Recruiting updates on the Garnet and Black spring game | NOTES: What Will Muschamp said after the game | Post-game player notes | Photos from the spring game | Kicker Parker White placed on scholarship
