Injuries gave this Gamecock a chance to grow as a person. He took advantage
Being injured often isolates a college football player. He works off to the side. He’s hidden in the training room. At best he’s on the sideline watching, but taking everything in at a distance.
South Carolina safety Jaylin Dickerson has battled injuries throughout his Gamecocks career. Sidelined in 2019 after hip surgery, however, he turned his energy to something positive and found something good in what can be a dark time.
“Through that time, I started to find myself,” Dickerson said, “like my inner self. I started reading, writing. Just opening and expanding my mind to different things, and while I can’t play football I will do other things. So I was just trying to expand my mind and not be so down on myself that I can’t play the game of football.
“It’s more than life than just football. It’s going to end one day. So I kind of had to expand my mind.”
The North Carolina product read a more than 100-year-old book on the power of thought called “As a Man Thinketh,” and said it made him think about starting from his lowest and building himself up.
“I feel like I’m a more complete person,” Dickerson said.
A shoulder injury ended a promising 2017 season before it even began. He played in 10 games the next year, mostly on special teams, until injuries devastated the back end of the secondary.
He stepped in on defense for a couple games before a hamstring issue sidelined him until the bowl game. His 2019 again ended in the summer, as a genetic hip issue had to be addressed, shutting him down for the season.
Watching a teammate go through all that wasn’t easy, especially as the team continued to struggle at his safety position.
“We love football,” fellow safety Jammie Robinson said. “Football is what we do and what we live for. Having an injury and stuff, that will tear your heart out. I’m glad he’s back.”
Dickerson learned to deal with it, learned there’s more than just the game. His coaches, including defensive coordinator Travaris Robinson, are pleased to have him back.
“Jaylin is a guy who’s been really, really good,” Travaris Robinson said. “When you look at spring, look at fall, and he’s just been an injury-prone guy. And we hadn’t had him much, so I’m excited to have him back on the field. He’s a physical dude. He knows what to do, and he’s got to continue to just get the game reps.
“But Jaylin is a huge addition and we needed him. We needed him last year, but I’m thankful he’s here now.”
Jammie Robinson described the 6-foot-1, 195-pounder as someone who could patrol the deep middle in Cover-3, someone the corners outside can rely on. The younger player picks up a few things from the veteran and added that Dickerson can lay the wood when needed.
That range and physicality could provide something the team found itself without at times last season. The Gamecocks were perpetually short at that spot, often playing a third linebacker and sliding Jammie Robinson to pair with R.J. Roderick. Dickerson could possibly provide a different look back there.
Before the coronavirus outbreak indefinitely pushed back spring ball, Dickerson was simply enjoying mixing it up again. He had to be away from the game for so long, learned about himself and grew as a person, and in that he seemed to enjoy getting back all the more as he stood next to a practice field, smiling as he gazed out across it.
“Look at it, man,” Dickerson said. “It’s always a love and a joyful time. I’m blessed to be back out here for a second chance. It’s the greatest gift out there, a second chance. I’m blessed.”
This story was originally published March 30, 2020 at 8:14 AM with the headline "Injuries gave this Gamecock a chance to grow as a person. He took advantage."
