Johnson and Swain Earn SEC Player of the Week Accolades

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 COLUMBIA, S.C. (Sept. 1, 2025) – University of South Carolina linebacker Fred Johnson was named the Southeastern Conference co-Defensive Player of the Week and punt returner Vicari Swain was selected as the SEC’s co-Special Teams Player of the Week, it was announced today. The two standout performances helped the 13th-ranked Gamecocks to a season-opening 24-11 win over Virginia Tech Sunday in Atlanta.

Johnson, a 6-3, 244-pound linebacker was all over the field on Sunday. In his first career start he was credited with a game-high 10 tackles. The sophomore from Norfolk, Va., also intercepted a pass in the end zone and had one pass breakup. He helped the Carolina defense keep the Hokies out of the end zone all game.

Swain, a 6-1, 190-pound redshirt sophomore defensive back from Carrollton, Ga., broke the game open early in the fourth quarter with an 80-yard punt return for a touchdown, giving Carolina a two-score lead for the first time in the game. It was the Gamecocks’ first punt return for a score since Ace Sanders in 2013 and tied for the sixth-longest punt return in school history.

Johnson, Swain and the rest of the Gamecocks return to action on Saturday, Sept. 6, when they host the South Carolina State Bulldogs in a 7 pm contest at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia. The game will be streamed on ESPN+/SECN+.

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