GamecockFanatics Offensive & Defensives Players of the game vs North Carolina in the Mayo Bowl
Dec. 30, 2021
GCF Offensive player of the game WR/QB Dakereon Joyner: As South Carolina’s Dakereon Joyner stepped on the Duke’s Mayo Bowl postgame stage and accepted his silver MVP trophy, tears welled in his eyes. This was the moment Joyner had always dreamed of the bowl game win, the roaring fans and him at the center of it all.
No one expected Joyner to play as much quarterback as he did Thursday. Beamer and his coaching staff made sure of that. As far as the public knew, Joyner spent the past month practicing as a wide receiver, just as he had all season. But away from the cameras, Joyner had been taking first-team reps with the quarterbacks since early December, right after the team’s loss to Clemson to end the regular season.
The throw. The ball snapped, Joyner scrambled to his right, just outside of a firm block set by tight end Nick Muse, and he heaved a rocket down to the other end of the field, where Bell hauled in the pass and pulled into the end zone for a 69-yard score.
That was only the beginning. Splitting snaps at quarterback almost 50-50 with Zeb Noland, the presumed starter, Joyner took full advantage of every throw he made. He completed all nine of his passes, throwing for 160 yards and a touchdown as he outdueled a preseason Heisman Trophy candidate in UNC’s Sam Howell. Dak's stats for the day 9-9 for 160yards in the air 10 rushing for 64 yards on the ground..
Worthy of a helmet sticker RB Kevin Harris: Limited by injury for much the season, last year’s SEC regular season rushing leader didn’t show quite the same burst in 2021 as he did in 2020. But that changed Thursday, as Harris ran all over the UNC defense, posting a whopping 182 yards on 31 carries in one last bid to raise his stock before making an NFL Draft decision. Harris has not yet indicated what he will do after this season.
Worthy of a helmet sticker TE Jaheim Bell: Speaking of Bell, the dynamic tight end gave the Gamecocks a massive jolt early in the game. Bell rushed for 20 years on the first play of the game, taking the ball from Joyner on a jet sweep. After his 69-yard touchdown reception, Bell hauled in a 66-yard touchdown pass from Zeb Noland on the team’s next drive. Midway through the first quarter, Bell two catches for two touchdowns and 135 receiving yards
GCF Defensive player of the game DL Jabari Ellis: Playing his final game as a Gamecock, the veteran defensive lineman was a physical force all game long, making UNC quarterback Sam Howell uncomfortable in the pocket with consistent pressure. Ellis recorded a 10-yard sack on third down to start the game, derailing what had looked like a promising Tar Heel drive. Late in the second quarter, he tackled running back Ty Chandler for no gain on third down in the red zone, forcing the Tar Heels to kick a field goal. He finished the game with five tackles and a sack.
