Patience is becoming increasingly rare in modern college football. With NIL opportunities and the transfer portal offering quick exits, players often choose to leave if they’re not playing right away.
But South Carolina kicker William Joyce took a different path. After waiting five years for his moment, Joyce finally got his chance in Sunday’s season-opening win over Virginia Tech — his first start with the Gamecocks.
Even after losing the kicking job in 2024 and graduating from USC in May, Joyce stayed put. For him, the chance to wear the garnet and black was worth the wait.
“This place is my home,” Joyce said. “I love it here. I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.”
Joyce admitted he nearly won the starting job last year before it went to Alex Herrera, who finished the season 15-for-21 on field goals. Despite the setback, the Spartanburg native stayed motivated, enrolled in graduate school, and continued competing.
“I just kept working my way up during the season last year, just trying to keep putting good reps on tape and then kept it going this spring,” Joyce said. “I knew I had a chance again.”
That chance didn’t come with any guarantees. South Carolina’s kicking competition — which included Joyce, punter Mason Love, and others — lasted right up until game week. Joyce wasn’t told he won the job until pregame on Sunday.
When the opportunity came, he delivered. Joyce hit his lone field goal attempt from 27 yards and went 2-for-2 on extra points.
“I was really excited when I found out. It just felt like a big relief that a lot of years of hard work worked out,” Joyce said.
Head coach Shane Beamer explained that the staff didn’t make the final decision until the Friday before kickoff. After a week of inconsistent kicking, Beamer and special teams coordinator Joe DeCamillis staged a game-simulation session at practice to settle the battle.
“When we met as a staff Sunday morning we confirmed all that with Joe,” Beamer said. “They were out there Sunday, and [Joe] let them know at whatever point he felt was best to let those guys know.”
Beamer praised Joyce for his perseverance and development over his five years in the program.
“William’s always been a talented kicker. … He’s had a role in this team in previous years and obviously his role now is bigger than it’s been,” Beamer said. “He’s earned it”.
