South Carolina was the first school to offer North Charleston (S.C.) Fort Dorchester four-star quarterback Dakereon Joyner when he was in the eighth grade.

Joyner's recruiting process has come full circle as the 6-foot-1, 190-pounder pledged to the Gamecocks Sunday afternoon as he gets ready for his senior season.

Joyner credits relationships with head coach Will Muschamp and co-offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Kurt Roper, who made him a priority since taking over the program.

"Since Day 1, (Muschamp) always said I was 'that guy,'" Joyner said. "And it feels good to know that you're that guy, the No. 1 guy on their board. I'm thankful for Coach Muschamp. I love him to death. He's always supported me. I'm glad that he'll be my future coach."

Joyner's announcement to join the program comes on Father's Day in honor of his late father Damond Alton Joyner, who passed away in 2009.

"My dad only was there to see one of my football seasons, my first football season," Joyner explained. "I was glad he was there. I used to pray before every game with him, that's what I still kinda do now. He was always there, 100 percent, he never doubted me, always believed in me since Day 1."

The talented dual-threat quarterback chose the Gamecocks over finalist N.C. State plus offers from Alabama, Georgia, Louisville, Oregon, Clemson, Florida, Georgia Tech, UNC, Tennessee and Virginia Tech.

As a junior, Joyner was named the South Carolina Gatorade Player of the Year when he completed 190 of 297 passes for 3,642 yards and 44 touchdowns and rushed for 1,089 yards and 12 TDs.

Joyner is ranked the No. 196 overall prospect in the 2018 class, the No. 12 athlete and the No. 3 prospect in the state of South Carolina.

Joyner plans to enroll at South Carolina in January. The Gamecocks have just three scholarship quarterbacks on campus in Jake Bentley, Michael Scarnecchia and Jay Urich.

He now plans to turn his attention to his senior year and recruiting other prospects to join him in the Gamecocks' class. Joyner is the ninth commitment to South Carolina's 2018 class.

"We're going to have to work," Joyner said. "Starting with the SEC East, then we're going to win the whole SEC, then the national championship. I'm saying it now and I mean it."

Joyner doesn't plan on visiting any other schools.

"I'm 110 percent committed to South Carolina; I don't want to get anywhere else," he said.