A lot of talk around South Carolina football has centered on quarterback LaNorris Sellers and his early Heisman buzz. But through two weeks, perhaps no player in the nation has done more to carry his team than Vicari Swain.
Vicari Swain… King of the Return 😤 pic.twitter.com/dg4fvHJSr5
— South Carolina Football (@GamecockFB) September 7, 2025
The redshirt sophomore defensive back delivered another special teams masterclass on Saturday night in Columbia, returning two punts for touchdowns as the No. 10 Gamecocks defeated SC State 38-10. Swain now has three punt-return touchdowns in just two games, tying the South Carolina single-season record before mid-September.
Put Vicari Swain’s jersey in the rafters
— J.P. Hovey (@jhovey34) September 7, 2025
Two punt return TDs in two games is all I need to see 🐐 pic.twitter.com/TybGe3OCT4
Swain Strikes Twice
South Carolina was trailing SC State 3-0 at the end of the first quarter after a sluggish offensive start and a field goal by the Bulldogs. The momentum shifted in the second quarter when Swain slipped through the coverage on a 65-yard retrun to give the Gamecocks their first lead. Just minutes later, he struck again, picking up a partially blocked punt and racing it down 42 yards for his second touchdown of the night.
I couldn't believe he even tried to field this.
— Jordan Kaye (@jordankaye_23) September 7, 2025
Vicari Swain looking like Deion pic.twitter.com/d9XhCFJBrv
Swain's big plays were the difference in the game where the Gamecocks' offense struggled to sustain drives. “They’ve created an identity already where people will stay in their seats on fourth down,” head coach Shane Beamer said of his special teams unit.
May God bless the dinosaur that died to make the fossil fuel that was treated to become gas in the car that took Vicari
— CFB Home (@CFBHome) August 31, 2025
Swain's mom to the hospital to give birth to him. pic.twitter.com/E4oiOm7xB4
The Second Half Offense
South Carolina opened the third quarter with better rhythm, with Sellers guiding the squad down the field on a drive capped by a five-yard touchdown from Oscar Adaway III. Moments later, linebacker Jaron Willis scooped up a fumble and returned it for 46 yards and another score, putting the game firmly out of reach for SC State.
Sellers added a 35-yard touchdown strike to Vandrevius Jacobs late in the third, finishing with 128 passing yards, one touchdown, and 23 yards on the ground. Sellers admitted the offense was not hitting its stride. “We know we have to be a lot better,” Sellers said. “We can’t rely on our defense and special teams to score three touchdowns a game. For us to go out there and begin the second half and have something going, it just shows that we didn’t start out how we wanted to, but we’re still a team that can finish,” Sellers said.
What's Next
South Carolina (2-0) will host Vanderbilt (2-0) next Saturday at 7:45 p.m. on SEC Network.