How Shane Beamer knew Dakereon Joyner had bought into being a running back for USC

3-4 minutes 7/22/2023
Dakereon Joyner has “literally done everything on our team in his career,” Shane Beamer says.
He’s spent time at wide receiver, quarterback and as a deep returner on kickoffs. Next on the list: running back.
There were flashes of Joyner’s potential at the position last year, Beamer said in speaking with reporters this week at SEC Media Days in Nashville. He had two rushing touchdowns in South Carolina’s win over Tennessee. In those plays and other wildcat quarterback situations he played in, Joyner displayed a running back’s skill set.
“Making somebody miss in space, lowering his shoulder and trying to get north, south, downhill on somebody,” Beamer said.
Before spring practice began, Beamer met with Joyner to discuss the possibility of using him more often as a ball carrier. South Carolina at the time only had two scholarship tailbacks on the roster. Joyner seemed reluctant at first but decided to help out, Beamer said.
Now the sixth-year senior has grown into the new responsibility.
“He and I were actually at a charity event in Charleston the other night to raise money,” Beamer told reporters in Nashville. “Dakereon was there with me and they had a Q&A with the players where he came up on stage, and the emcee introduced him as a receiver — and he immediately got the microphone and told the whole room, ‘I’m a running back.’ So, he’s bought into it and has embodied it.”
The Gamecocks benefited from having Joyner, Marion Anderson and Juju McDowell all go through spring practice, Beamer said in a radio interview Thursday with 107.5 The Game.
“We feel good about where those guys are, how they can help us,” Beamer told 107.5. “DJay Braswell is a true freshman that got here this summer. We’ll give him an opportunity to show what he can do when he starts practice.”
Beamer cited walk-ons Bradley Dunn, Nathan Harris-Waynick and D.J. Twitty as players who’ll get a chance to factor in this season.
“That’s a position where you’ve got to play more than one a game,” Beamer said in the radio interview. “You certainly need more than four to get through a season. I imagine it will be by-committee when it’s all said and done. I’m eager to see when we start practice in August who separates themselves into that top tier.”