Mark Martin
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2023 Gamecock football countdown thread
- Thread starter kingofnerf
- Start date
Redshirt SR DB Marcellas Dial (6) from Woodruff, SC.
gamecocksonline.com
(Photo courtesy South Carolina Athletics)
Veteran defensive back who figures to be the top cover corner for Carolina in 2023, the latest in a long line of standout Gamecock cornerbacks… former junior college defensive back who begins his third year in Columbia… continues to elevate his game… has gained weight, gotten stronger in the weight room and has matured… expected to take more of a leadership role this season… has made 17 career starts.
2022 (Redshirt Junior)
Played in all 13 games, starting 10 at cornerback… registered 45 tackles with a team-leading three interceptions and a team-high 12 pass breakups… his three interceptions and his 15 passes defended were the third-highest totals in the SEC… his 1.2 passes defended per game tied for 24th in the country… totaled three tackles, a career-high three pass breakups and his first collegiate interception in the season-opener against Georgia State… picked off his second pass of the season against South Carolina State… credited with a career-high nine tackles in the win over Tennessee… earned SEC Defensive Player of the Week following his efforts against the Clemson when he finished with two tackles, one interception and tied his career high with three pass breakups (3)… allowed just one catch for 11 yards while being targeted 11 times in the contest.
2021 (Redshirt Sophomore)
Enrolled at South Carolina in January after transferring from Georgia Military College… played in all 13 games, making seven starts at cornerback… recorded 33 tackles including 25 solo stops… credited with six pass breakups, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery… collected four tackles five times.
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=csSGJD45d4g
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8p4t3_m4HmQ
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2DIfnKjExo
Marcellas Dial
gamecocksonline.com
(Photo courtesy South Carolina Athletics)
Veteran defensive back who figures to be the top cover corner for Carolina in 2023, the latest in a long line of standout Gamecock cornerbacks… former junior college defensive back who begins his third year in Columbia… continues to elevate his game… has gained weight, gotten stronger in the weight room and has matured… expected to take more of a leadership role this season… has made 17 career starts.
2022 (Redshirt Junior)
Played in all 13 games, starting 10 at cornerback… registered 45 tackles with a team-leading three interceptions and a team-high 12 pass breakups… his three interceptions and his 15 passes defended were the third-highest totals in the SEC… his 1.2 passes defended per game tied for 24th in the country… totaled three tackles, a career-high three pass breakups and his first collegiate interception in the season-opener against Georgia State… picked off his second pass of the season against South Carolina State… credited with a career-high nine tackles in the win over Tennessee… earned SEC Defensive Player of the Week following his efforts against the Clemson when he finished with two tackles, one interception and tied his career high with three pass breakups (3)… allowed just one catch for 11 yards while being targeted 11 times in the contest.
2021 (Redshirt Sophomore)
Enrolled at South Carolina in January after transferring from Georgia Military College… played in all 13 games, making seven starts at cornerback… recorded 33 tackles including 25 solo stops… credited with six pass breakups, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery… collected four tackles five times.
#6 South Carolina defeated North Carolina 27-10 in 2013.
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-4oie-bJIKo
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U37ityYdou4
#10 South Carolina defeated #6 Clemson 31-17 in 2013 to make it five-in-a-row.
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tloU6rb5E3U
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SiXBBvOCM4E
#6 South Carolina defeated Kentucky 38-17 at Lexington in 2012.
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1n0GHofIj6I
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUnKCadbFWI
#6 South Carolina defeated #5 Georgia 35-7 at Williams-Brice in 2012.
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xeFCxeekQ0
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QXndsWWJ_N8
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJHL-hZOqnQ
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gVMeSTHT-M
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Sixth-year RB Dakereon Joyner (5) from North Charleston, SC.
gamecocksonline.com
(Photo courtesy South Carolina Athletics)
* 2023 Spring co-Offense Most Improved Award
* 2022 Above All Else Award
* 2021 All-Bowl Team (Associated Press)
* 2021 Joe Morrison Co-Offensive Player of the Spring
* 2021 Joe Morrison Co-Offensive Player of the Spring
* 2021 Jim Carlen Special Teams Player of the Spring
* 2021 Harold White GPA Award – Offense
* 2019 Strength & Conditioning Award
* 2019 Unselfish Teammate Award
Veteran versatile performer who returns for a sixth season in the Garnet & Black… converted to running back in the spring where he earned a share of the Most Improved Award for the offense with O’Mega Blake… expected to battle for a starting assignment in the fall… has primarily worked at wide receiver, but has also been used at quarterback and as a deep returner on kickoffs… talented playmaker with the ball in his hands… great leader… was the MVP in the 2021 Duke’s Mayo Bowl as a quarterback… has appeared in 45 games with 10 starts over the past five years… has completed his last 12 pass attempts for 261 yards and two scores over the past two seasons.
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4yGAoCNdy_4
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZtL_-kTx3I
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2rrK8jbPxQ
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5DXRGnW1Qfo
Dakereon Joyner
gamecocksonline.com
(Photo courtesy South Carolina Athletics)
* 2023 Spring co-Offense Most Improved Award
* 2022 Above All Else Award
* 2021 All-Bowl Team (Associated Press)
* 2021 Joe Morrison Co-Offensive Player of the Spring
* 2021 Joe Morrison Co-Offensive Player of the Spring
* 2021 Jim Carlen Special Teams Player of the Spring
* 2021 Harold White GPA Award – Offense
* 2019 Strength & Conditioning Award
* 2019 Unselfish Teammate Award
Veteran versatile performer who returns for a sixth season in the Garnet & Black… converted to running back in the spring where he earned a share of the Most Improved Award for the offense with O’Mega Blake… expected to battle for a starting assignment in the fall… has primarily worked at wide receiver, but has also been used at quarterback and as a deep returner on kickoffs… talented playmaker with the ball in his hands… great leader… was the MVP in the 2021 Duke’s Mayo Bowl as a quarterback… has appeared in 45 games with 10 starts over the past five years… has completed his last 12 pass attempts for 261 yards and two scores over the past two seasons.
True FR LB Grayson "
" Howard (5) from Jacksonville, FL.
gamecocksonline.com
(Photo courtesy South Carolina Athletics)
True freshman linebacker who gained some experience after enrolling early and working with the team in its 2022 TaxSlayer Gator Bowl practices and then participating in spring drills… possesses great size and strength… figures to play early and often but will need to learn the system… a leader both on and off the field… could develop into an impact linebacker… nicknamed “”.
HIGH SCHOOL
Graduated from Andrew Jackson High School in Jacksonville, Fla. in December 2022… played the MIKE linebacker position… helped the Tigers win its first district title since 2009 and make the Sunshine State’s new 2M playoffs in 2022… totaled 188 tackles in 11 games with 106 solo stops… invited to play in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl… coached by Christopher Foy… was a News4JaxSports first-team and an All-Gateway selection in 2021… made a team-leading 157 tackles with 14 tackles for loss… helped the Tigers to a 7-4 mark and a spot in the 4A playoffs, its best season in 12 years… as a sophomore in 2000, earned Florida Times-Union All First-Coast third-team honors after logging over 100 tackles in nine games… rated the 42nd-best prospect in the state of Florida, the 18th-best linebacker in the country and No. 183 overall, according to 247Sports Composite… considered the 40th-best player in Florida, the 19th-best linebacker in the country and No. 182 overall on On3 Consensus… ranked as the 42nd-best player in the state, the 15th-best outside linebacker and No. 177 on the ESPN300.
" Howard (5) from Jacksonville, FL.Grayson Howard
gamecocksonline.com
(Photo courtesy South Carolina Athletics)
True freshman linebacker who gained some experience after enrolling early and working with the team in its 2022 TaxSlayer Gator Bowl practices and then participating in spring drills… possesses great size and strength… figures to play early and often but will need to learn the system… a leader both on and off the field… could develop into an impact linebacker… nicknamed “
”.HIGH SCHOOL
Graduated from Andrew Jackson High School in Jacksonville, Fla. in December 2022… played the MIKE linebacker position… helped the Tigers win its first district title since 2009 and make the Sunshine State’s new 2M playoffs in 2022… totaled 188 tackles in 11 games with 106 solo stops… invited to play in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl… coached by Christopher Foy… was a News4JaxSports first-team and an All-Gateway selection in 2021… made a team-leading 157 tackles with 14 tackles for loss… helped the Tigers to a 7-4 mark and a spot in the 4A playoffs, its best season in 12 years… as a sophomore in 2000, earned Florida Times-Union All First-Coast third-team honors after logging over 100 tackles in nine games… rated the 42nd-best prospect in the state of Florida, the 18th-best linebacker in the country and No. 183 overall, according to 247Sports Composite… considered the 40th-best player in Florida, the 19th-best linebacker in the country and No. 182 overall on On3 Consensus… ranked as the 42nd-best player in the state, the 15th-best outside linebacker and No. 177 on the ESPN300.
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The Gamecocks upset #5 Tennessee 63-38 at Williams-Brice in 2022.
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7IJPL8dtU_E
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bXMDqx5fOlo
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVNq8zvdo-g
#20 South Carolina upset #5 Mizzou 27-24 in double-overtime in 2013.
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3dJIsx6g1xs
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1aPVieAsuY
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWw_aQ3mUS0
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Redshirt SR EDGE Terrell Dawkins (4) from Concord, NC.
gamecocksonline.com
(Photo courtesy South Carolina Athletics)
* 2021 Philip Rivers Award (NC State)
EDGE rusher who is in his second season in Columbia after spending the previous three years at NC State… also capable of playing inside if needed… working his way back from a season-ending knee injury… has appeared in 29 games in his career, including 26 with the Wolfpack… has six career starts.
2022 (Redshirt Junior)
Arrived in Columbia in the spring… appeared in three games, logging a pair of tackles… made his Gamecock debut against Georgia State… recorded his first tackle in a South Carolina uniform when he finished with two stops at Arkansas… injured his knee against Georgia in Game 3 and missed the remainder of the season.
2021 (Redshirt Sophomore)
Underwent off-season surgery which caused him to miss spring drills, the summer program and lingered into the fall… appeared in 10 games… credited with six tackles overall… had two stops against Furman.
2020 (Redshirt Freshman)
Was the recipient of the Philip Rivers Award, given to the team’s top rookie… played in 12 contests, starting six games… credited with 36 tackles… logged 9.0 tackles for loss… led all ACC freshmen and with 4.5 sacks… tallied a career-best nine tackles in the win over Duke, including 1.5 TFLs… forced a pair of fumbles.
Terrell Dawkins
gamecocksonline.com
(Photo courtesy South Carolina Athletics)
* 2021 Philip Rivers Award (NC State)
EDGE rusher who is in his second season in Columbia after spending the previous three years at NC State… also capable of playing inside if needed… working his way back from a season-ending knee injury… has appeared in 29 games in his career, including 26 with the Wolfpack… has six career starts.
2022 (Redshirt Junior)
Arrived in Columbia in the spring… appeared in three games, logging a pair of tackles… made his Gamecock debut against Georgia State… recorded his first tackle in a South Carolina uniform when he finished with two stops at Arkansas… injured his knee against Georgia in Game 3 and missed the remainder of the season.
2021 (Redshirt Sophomore)
Underwent off-season surgery which caused him to miss spring drills, the summer program and lingered into the fall… appeared in 10 games… credited with six tackles overall… had two stops against Furman.
2020 (Redshirt Freshman)
Was the recipient of the Philip Rivers Award, given to the team’s top rookie… played in 12 contests, starting six games… credited with 36 tackles… logged 9.0 tackles for loss… led all ACC freshmen and with 4.5 sacks… tallied a career-best nine tackles in the win over Duke, including 1.5 TFLs… forced a pair of fumbles.
Redshirt SO QB Colten Gauthier (4) from Bethlehem, GA.
gamecocksonline.com
(Photo courtesy South Carolina Athletics)
* 2023 Harold White GPA Award – Offense
* 2022 SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll
* 2021-22 SEC First-Year Academic Honor Roll
* 2021 SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll
Redshirt sophomore signal-caller who has shown improvement with three spring practices under his belt… still defining his role on the squad… has a big arm… best trait is his physicality and size… smart and understands the system.
2022 (Redshirt Freshman)
Reserve signal-caller… did not see any game action… named to the SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll.
2021 (Freshman)
Graduated from high school early and enrolled at South Carolina in January… went through the winter program and spring drills with the squad… saw action in one game, appearing in the season-opener against Eastern Illinois… connected his only pass attempt, a 19-yard completion… named to the SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll and the 2021-22 SEC First-Year Academic Honor Roll.
HIGH SCHOOL
Graduated in December 2020 from Hebron Christian Academy in Dacula, Ga.… ran an “Air Raid” offense… coached by Jeff Saturday… played 34 games during his three-year career for the Lions, completing 444-of-811 passes for 6,541 yards with 61 touchdowns… also rushed for 17 scores… as a senior, he was 156-of-300 passing for 2,052 yards with 22 touchdowns… led his team to a three-game run in the 2019 state playoffs as a junior, including its first win over Commerce High in 25 years… completed 143-of-252 passes as a junior for 2,401 yards with 20 touchdowns… was a member of the 2019 GACA All-State team and was an all-region performer… completed 145-of-259 passes for 2,088 yards with 19 TDs as a sophomore in 2018… also played varsity baseball… rated as the 51st-best player in Georgia, the 23rd-best pro-style quarterback in the country and No. 618 overall by 247Sports Composite… Rivals ranked him as the 26th-best player in the state and the No. 13 pro-style quarterback in the country.
Colten Gauthier
gamecocksonline.com
(Photo courtesy South Carolina Athletics)
* 2023 Harold White GPA Award – Offense
* 2022 SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll
* 2021-22 SEC First-Year Academic Honor Roll
* 2021 SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll
Redshirt sophomore signal-caller who has shown improvement with three spring practices under his belt… still defining his role on the squad… has a big arm… best trait is his physicality and size… smart and understands the system.
2022 (Redshirt Freshman)
Reserve signal-caller… did not see any game action… named to the SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll.
2021 (Freshman)
Graduated from high school early and enrolled at South Carolina in January… went through the winter program and spring drills with the squad… saw action in one game, appearing in the season-opener against Eastern Illinois… connected his only pass attempt, a 19-yard completion… named to the SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll and the 2021-22 SEC First-Year Academic Honor Roll.
HIGH SCHOOL
Graduated in December 2020 from Hebron Christian Academy in Dacula, Ga.… ran an “Air Raid” offense… coached by Jeff Saturday… played 34 games during his three-year career for the Lions, completing 444-of-811 passes for 6,541 yards with 61 touchdowns… also rushed for 17 scores… as a senior, he was 156-of-300 passing for 2,052 yards with 22 touchdowns… led his team to a three-game run in the 2019 state playoffs as a junior, including its first win over Commerce High in 25 years… completed 143-of-252 passes as a junior for 2,401 yards with 20 touchdowns… was a member of the 2019 GACA All-State team and was an all-region performer… completed 145-of-259 passes for 2,088 yards with 19 TDs as a sophomore in 2018… also played varsity baseball… rated as the 51st-best player in Georgia, the 23rd-best pro-style quarterback in the country and No. 618 overall by 247Sports Composite… Rivals ranked him as the 26th-best player in the state and the No. 13 pro-style quarterback in the country.
The unranked Gamecocks upset #4 Ole Miss 16-10 at Williams-Brice in 2009. The win is largely regarded at the birth of Sandstorm at W-B.
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UCE0d7tMNcg
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygUNDLNh8cc
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z6aGnpEXcCI
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6rgGBPsfhf8
SR WR Antwane "Juice" Wells Jr. (3) from Richmond, VA.
gamecocksonline.com
(Photo courtesy South Carolina Athletics)
* 2022 First-Team All-SEC (Coaches, ProFootballFocus, Phil Steele)
* 2022 Second-Team All-SEC (AP)
* 2022 Steve Spurrier Award – MVP Offense
* 2021 Second-Team FCS All-American (Stats Perform)
* 2021 Second-Team FCS All-American (HERO Sports)
* 2021 Fourth-Team FCS All-American (Phil Steele)
* 2021 FCS Freshman All-American (HERO Sports)
* 2021 FCS Freshman All-American (Phil Steele)
* 2021 First-Team All-CAA
* 2020 FCS Freshman All-American (HERO Sports)
* 2020 CAA Football Commissioner’s Academic Honor Roll
Standout wide receiver who is an All-America candidate after earning All-SEC honors in 2022… became the go-to guy for Spencer Rattler last season… leads by example… spent the previous two seasons at FCS-level James Madison before transferring to South Carolina in January of 2022… ranks third all-time at JMU in career receiving touchdowns (21), ninth in career receiving yards (1,853) and ninth in career receptions (116)… holds the school’s single-season records for receiving yards (1,250), receiving touchdowns (15) and receptions (83), all set in 2021… has 12 100-yard receiving games in his career, including four at South Carolina.
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CdJvjEHHL64
Antwane Wells Jr.
gamecocksonline.com
(Photo courtesy South Carolina Athletics)
* 2022 First-Team All-SEC (Coaches, ProFootballFocus, Phil Steele)
* 2022 Second-Team All-SEC (AP)
* 2022 Steve Spurrier Award – MVP Offense
* 2021 Second-Team FCS All-American (Stats Perform)
* 2021 Second-Team FCS All-American (HERO Sports)
* 2021 Fourth-Team FCS All-American (Phil Steele)
* 2021 FCS Freshman All-American (HERO Sports)
* 2021 FCS Freshman All-American (Phil Steele)
* 2021 First-Team All-CAA
* 2020 FCS Freshman All-American (HERO Sports)
* 2020 CAA Football Commissioner’s Academic Honor Roll
Standout wide receiver who is an All-America candidate after earning All-SEC honors in 2022… became the go-to guy for Spencer Rattler last season… leads by example… spent the previous two seasons at FCS-level James Madison before transferring to South Carolina in January of 2022… ranks third all-time at JMU in career receiving touchdowns (21), ninth in career receiving yards (1,853) and ninth in career receptions (116)… holds the school’s single-season records for receiving yards (1,250), receiving touchdowns (15) and receptions (83), all set in 2021… has 12 100-yard receiving games in his career, including four at South Carolina.
Redshirt JR DB O'Donnell Fortune (3) from Sumter, SC. Fortune wore #25 for us last year.
gamecocksonline.com
(Photo courtesy South Carolina Athletics)
HIGH SCHOOL
Graduated from Sumter (S.C.) High School mid-year and enrolled at South Carolina in January 2020… played both cornerback and safety… also handled punt and kickoff returns… logged 42 tackles with five tackles for loss and three interceptions as a senior… the Fighting Gamecocks posted a 10-1 record in 2019, falling in the second round of the Class 5A state playoffs… named first team all-state by the South Carolina coaches… selected to the Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas… as a junior in 2018, he led Sumter with five interceptions along with 48 tackles, three tackles for loss and one fumble recovery… collected 84 career tackles with eight tackles for loss and eight interceptions… coached by Mark Barnes… also played basketball and competed on the track & field team in the sprints and jumps… Rivals considered him the 13th-best player in the Palmetto State… ranked as the 11th-best player in South Carolina, the 57th-best safety in the country and No. 747 overall in the 247Sports Composite.
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7CRIqD3ijFw
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uvuMgKk5Cc0
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44_YQq86ozI
O’Donnell Fortune
gamecocksonline.com
(Photo courtesy South Carolina Athletics)
HIGH SCHOOL
Graduated from Sumter (S.C.) High School mid-year and enrolled at South Carolina in January 2020… played both cornerback and safety… also handled punt and kickoff returns… logged 42 tackles with five tackles for loss and three interceptions as a senior… the Fighting Gamecocks posted a 10-1 record in 2019, falling in the second round of the Class 5A state playoffs… named first team all-state by the South Carolina coaches… selected to the Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas… as a junior in 2018, he led Sumter with five interceptions along with 48 tackles, three tackles for loss and one fumble recovery… collected 84 career tackles with eight tackles for loss and eight interceptions… coached by Mark Barnes… also played basketball and competed on the track & field team in the sprints and jumps… Rivals considered him the 13th-best player in the Palmetto State… ranked as the 11th-best player in South Carolina, the 57th-best safety in the country and No. 747 overall in the 247Sports Composite.
The #18 Gamecocks pounded Kentucky 54-3 at Williams-Brice in 2011. This game was Connor Shaw's first start as a Gamecock QB.
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Go2gA_YfV1o
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLxePbQvj5w
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