Vicari Swain Named SEC Special Teams Player of the Week After Historic Two-Touchdown Game / sportsearchers.com

The Gamecocks defensive back and punt returner Vicari Swain was named the SEC Special Teams Player of the Week following his standout performance against Towson, the conference announced Monday.

A Record-Breaking Night

Swain returned two punts for touchdowns in South Carolina’s 45-9 win on September 12, pushing his career total to five punt return touchdowns — making him the all-time program leader in the category, surpassing Dick Harris (1969-71), who had previously held the record with four.

Building on a Strong 2025 Season

This performance builds on an already impressive track record. Swain had three punt return touchdowns in 2025, including one in the season opener against Virginia Tech and two more the following week against SC State — meaning his latest two-touchdown outing against Towson accounts for the majority of his career total in just this one game.

Breaking Down the Two Touchdowns

Swain’s first score came early, with the game still scoreless roughly five minutes into the first quarter. He got underneath a 50-yard Towson punt and returned it 58 yards for a touchdown, giving South Carolina its first points of the game. His second touchdown came late in the third quarter, as he broke off another return — this one covering 45 yards — to put the finishing touch on a dominant night.

Beamer Praises Swain’s Playmaking Ability

Head coach Shane Beamer didn’t hold back his praise after the game, even hinting that Swain’s talents might extend beyond special teams: “He’s a weapon. One of our coaches tonight was like, ‘Man, we need to get him on offense.’ And I don’t disagree. Vicari’s certainly been in my ear about it since June. He just has playmaking skills. That’s what I would say. When the ball’s in his hands, the ability to break tackles, make people miss, the vision when you run — he has all that as a returner.”

An All-Around Special Teams Impact

Beyond his two return touchdowns, Swain also made his presence felt defensively on special teams, blocking an extra-point attempt in the third quarter immediately after Towson scored its only touchdown of the game — further limiting the Tigers’ offensive output and reinforcing just how complete his special teams performance was on the night.

With the recognition now official, Swain’s Week 2 showing stands as one of the most productive individual special teams performances in program history, and his growing case for more offensive touches — something Beamer himself appears open to exploring — could become a storyline worth watching as South Carolina moves into SEC play against Mississippi State.