South Carolina's Fred "JayR" Johnson, Vicari Swain earn SEC Weekly Honors

The University of South Carolina landed two SEC weekly honors following its season-opening win over Virginia Tech. Fred "JayR" Johnson was named the SEC co-Defensive Player of the Week, while Vicari Swain earned co-Special Teams Player of the Week. Their breakout performances fueled the No. 13 Gamecocks' 24-11 victory Sunday in the Aflac Kickoff Game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

Johnson, a 6-foot-3, 244-pound sophomore from Norfolk, Virginia, was everywhere in his first career start. He finished with a game-high of 10 tackles, added a pass breakup, and came up with a hige interception in the end zone to stall a Virginia Tech drive. Johnson's effort anchored a defense that never allowed the Hokies into the end zone. For a unit that entered the season with questions after heavy offseason departures, Johnson's play was a statement.

Swain delivered one of the game's biggest highlights. The 6-foot-1, 190-pound redshirt sophomore from Carrolton, Georgia, flipped the momentum in the fourth quarter with an electrifying 80-yard punt return touchdown. The score gave South Carolina some breathing room and sent the Gamecocks faithful into a frenzy. It marked the first punt return touchdown for South Carolina since Ace Sanders in 2013 and tied for the sixth-longest in program history.

The honors underline how important Johnson and Swain were in setting the tone for the 2025 campaign. Both will be counted on heavily again this weekend when the Gamecocks return to Williams-Brice Stadium for their home opener against SC State. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. on ESPN+ and SECN+.