Coming out of Lexington High School, Parker Lawson didn’t generate much recruiting buzz. Though he showed flashes of talent, the offensive lineman needed time to develop under Wildcats head coach Perry Woolbright. By his senior year, Lawson had gone from a role player to a consistent starter.
“Parker has always been a hard worker,” Woolbright said. “He was a guy that kind of developed late. He kind of grew early. High school kids that grow really tall early … sometimes it’s kind of like a baby giraffe trying to learn to walk.”
Despite some conversations with smaller schools like Erskine, Lawson wasn’t persuaded. Instead, he set his sights on something bigger: walking on at South Carolina, just like his father, Jason Lawson, had done.
“He had several Division Two options,” Woolbright explained. “I think he listened to a few of them, talked to a few of them but he kind of just always kept that goal of wanting to go walk on (at) South Carolina.”
For Lawson, the decision was about more than football. USC was where he wanted to study — originally nursing, now public health — and the chance to keep playing the sport he loved was a bonus.
“I had already kind of figured out that I wanted to walk on here because my dad played here back in the day,” Lawson said. “So kind of a legacy, family-type thing. And I don’t live far from here, being from Lexington … walking on was just a benefit. If it worked out, it works out. If not, I’m still going to school here.”
Now, nearly two years later, Lawson is entering his redshirt sophomore season with the Gamecocks.
Staying Ready Through Club Football
When Lawson arrived at USC in fall 2023, he couldn’t immediately try out for the Gamecocks. With the walk-on opportunity not until early 2024, he looked for a way to stay sharp — and landed with South Carolina’s club football team.
“It was something to do,” Lawson said. “For me, it was fun because I was a lot bigger than the other guys, so I can just screw around.”
At 6-foot-4 and 300 pounds, Lawson played in about five games with the club team. While he admitted it was a little unorganized, he still found value in the experience.
“It helped keep me sharp on stuff,” he explained. “It’s a lot different but it kept me in a little bit of game shape.”
Alongside the club team, Lawson trained “nonstop” at Athlete’s Arena in Irmo, focusing on speed, strength, and conditioning before the big tryout.
When February 2024 arrived, Lawson finally got his chance. The tryout heavily emphasized conditioning, but Lawson felt prepared thanks to his training and prior film he’d shared with coaches.
South Carolina offensive line coach Lonnie Teasley recalled being impressed.
“He moved well for a bigger guy,” Teasley said. “(He) had a good, strong lower body. But just his movement skills were a big thing.”
Lawson left confident he had done enough. Three weeks later, the call came confirming he had earned a spot.
Following in His Father’s Footsteps
For Jason Lawson, the news stirred powerful emotions. Not only was it his son realizing a dream, but it was also the same path Jason himself had taken decades earlier as a Gamecock walk-on.
“You’ve seen a kid work real hard and you’ve been there yourself,” Jason said. “It’s all kinds of floods of emotions, to be honest with you. It’s excitement, you’re proud — man, you can’t believe how proud you are.”
Jason had joined South Carolina in 1993, redshirting before playing tight end and tackle until 1997. He worked his way into the lineup, including being part of the team that won the school’s first-ever bowl game in 1994.
When Parker made the team, Jason made sure his son knew what it meant.
“I wanted to make sure he knew how proud I was, but also … this is awesome and you’ve got an opportunity very few young men get ever,” Jason said. “There’s a lot of young men in this country that would love to play Division I SEC football … Now let’s see what you do with it.”
Living the Dream in Garnet and Black
Though Parker didn’t see game action in 2024, he remains grateful to simply be part of the team. Coach Teasley has praised his effort and progress, noting Lawson has continued to add weight and strength.
Jason, meanwhile, cherishes every moment of watching his son live out the same dream he did nearly 30 years ago.
“I love seeing him wear the jersey,” Jason said. “Going to some of the games last year where he was able to dress out, seeing him run out to ‘2001,’ celebrating with his teammates … those guys are out there, putting in the effort like everybody else.”
For Parker, it’s more than just football — it’s family, legacy, and pride in carrying on the Lawson name at South Carolina.
