Note: The following appears in the Charleston Southern football digital gameday guide, available HERE.
Davion Joyner has always bet on himself. His college football journey began as a wide receiver at Limestone for two seasons, followed by two years as a regular student at Clemson. During these years he was unsure if he would ever get the chance to play football again. Now, he is a scholarship cornerback for one of the most storied programs in college football.
“If you truly believe, and I mean truly believe, an opportunity will arise, and when it does, if you prepare for it, if you really want it, you'll be able to seize the moment.”
His unwavering belief, patience and determination began well before his college football career began. Joyner grew up with an athletic family, where sports were a part of everyday life. He was a two-sport athlete growing up, and although football was eventually the sport he chose, basketball will always be special to him. He even explained how similar the two are and how basketball heavily influenced his football playing style.
“You learn a lot from basketball. A release is pretty much a crossover. Here at cornerback, it's like sliding your feet at the line of scrimmage. It's like defense when you slide over. You slide instead of crossing over.”
After a successful high school career, earning 2022 All-Lowcountry Male High School Athlete-of-the-Year and Carolina Bowl MVP honors, Joyner eventually chose to stay in-state and play Division II football at Limestone. He spoke very highly about his time at Limestone, believing that his coaches, teammates and experiences there were what prepared him for playing at the Division I level.
“The stuff that I learned at Limestone made me believe that I could play at Clemson, because when I came here, there was no guarantee that I’d ever play football again. But they instilled that belief in me that I can gamble on myself.”
So that is what he did. Joyner spent two years as a regular Clemson student, training and staying ready for an opportunity to arise. During the spring, he finally got his chance. Clemson football posted on Instagram that they were hosting walk-on tryouts, and he immediately registered.
For Joyner, there were no “what ifs” with this tryout.
“This was my opportunity. I said, ‘I'm going to make the team, and then I'm going to prove that I belong.’”
However, he did remain a walk-on long. At the conclusion of fall camp, Head Coach Dabo Swinney awarded his hard work by putting him on scholarship. For Joyner, it was an incredibly gratifying moment and a special start to his final season of college football.
“It was a great moment to be recognized for the hard work. It made me feel like I belong here.”
It is quite the adjustment to play college football again after two years, join a new program and play a new position, but Joyner is the man for the job. He transitioned from safety to cornerback, a shift that has required him to perfect his craft.
“Safety is like cornerback because you have to be technically sound to do it. I had to hone in on technique because, as smart as you are and as much as you know what you want to do, your body won't allow you to if you don't have the technique.”
Although Joyner wholeheartedly believed in himself and knew he was capable, it is not an easy task for anyone. However, any time he felt that doubt creep in, he found himself surrounded by teammates and coaches who constantly encouraged him to keep showing up.
“Because it was a big jump coming in and playing a whole new position at this level, there were a lot of ups and downs and a lot of doubt. But my teammates and my coaching staff motivated me with words of encouragement and reassurance. No matter how I felt about myself, no matter my performance, they motivated me to come in every day, no matter what my mindset was.”
After putting in the work all summer and fall camp, Joyner finally experienced his first game in Death Valley, and it was nothing short of a dream come true.
“When I ran down the Hill, heard the fans and saw the stadium and the fireworks, it was amazing. What was running through my body was insane. I can't compare it to any feeling I've ever felt before. I was soaking it all up.”
Joyner has taken advantage of every opportunity that comes with being a Tiger. He is deeply involved with P.A.W. Journey, and mentorship was one of things he was most excited to pursue upon joining the team. He praised the influence of not only his mentor, John Lewis, but also everyone in the Clemson program.
“As soon as I got here, that was like one of the first things I did, before I even put shoulder pads on, was to get set up with a mentor. I have so many people who care about me outside of football. It's not just like a trade. They want to build you up into a man. It's amazing.”
When asked about what his favorite memory during his time with this program was, Joyner did not highlight a specific moment or an athletic accomplishment, but rather he described the moments with teammates that have become family to him which he will cherish forever.
“That team camaraderie, that family, that brotherhood that we all fight together, sweat together, bleed together…you’ll never find that again. This right here is the greatest feeling, the feeling like I'm in the community and I belong. That's the most exciting thing I've been able to experience at Clemson.”