Jaylan Foster

* 2021 Second-Team All-America (Walter Camp)
* 2021 Third-Team All-America (Phil Steele)
* 2021 First-Team All- SEC (A.P., Coaches, USA TODAY, Phil Steele)
* 2021 First-Team Midseason All-America (Sporting News)
* 2021 Jim Thorpe Award Semifinalist
* 2021 Co-Joe Morrison Award (MVP – Defense)
* 2021 Co-Steve Wadiak Award (Team MVP)
* 2021 Rex Enright Team Captain
* 2021 Strength & Conditioning Award
* 2021 Co-Outstanding Senior
* 2021 Most Inspirational Walk-On
* 2019 Scout Team Award – Special Teams

Former walk-on who used the NCAA ruling to return for a sixth year and became an All-American… placed on scholarship prior to the start of the 2020 season… an excellent special teams performer… possesses good football IQ… has played in 29 games over the past four seasons, starting 18… began his career at Gardner-Webb.

2021 (Super Senior)

Earned second-team All-America honors from Walter Camp and third-team accolades from Phil Steele.. named first-team All-SEC by the A.P., SEC Coaches, USA TODAY and Phil Steele… was a Sporting News Midseason first-team All-American and a Jim Thorpe Award Semifinalist… selected by the Carolina coaches as one of three Strength & Conditioning Award winners… selected by his teammates as the co-Outstanding Senior Award, the Most Inspirational Walk-On, the co-Joe Morrison Award winner as the MVP of the defense, the co-Steve Wadiak Award winner as the Team MVP… named as one of five Rex Enright permanent team captains… tied for fourth in the NCAA lead with a team-leading five interceptions, the most for a Gamecock since 2004… led the team with 96 tackles and ranked 13th in the SEC in tackles per game with 7.38… credited with 5.0 tackles for loss, a pair of sacks, three pass breakups two forced fumbles and a quarterback hurry… notched double figures in tackles in three games – Tennessee (13), Kentucky (12) and Troy (11)… served as a game captain against Eastern Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Florida, Auburn and Clemson.

2020 (Redshirt Senior)

Placed on scholarship during fall camp… played in all 10 games, making five starts at safety… ranked fourth on the team with 43 tackles, despite being used primarily on special teams in the first half of the season… had five stops in the win at Vanderbilt… started each of the season’s final five games… made his first career start against Texas A&M and recorded seven tackles… had eight tackles against both Ole Miss and Missouri… credited with two tackles for loss against the Tigers… logged a career-high nine tackles against Georgia.

2019 (Redshirt Junior)

Reserve defensive back… worked his way up from being a scout team performer to seeing action in three games on special teams… did not record any statistics… recognized by the coaches as the Scout Team Award winner for special teams… was not with the team in the spring, but returned to the active roster for the fall of 2019.

2018 (Redshirt Sophomore)

Was eligible for the first time at Carolina… saw action in three games, collecting a pair of tackles… credited with a stop against both Chattanooga and Akron… also appeared in the bowl game vs. Virginia.

2017 (Sophomore)

Worked with the scout team while sitting out his transfer year.

2016 (Freshman)

Played cornerback as a true freshman at Gardner-Webb for head coach Carroll McCray… named the Big South Conference Freshman of the Year… registered 45 tackles including 2.5 tackles for loss… led the Runnin’ Bulldogs with five pass interceptions and with nine pass breakups… also recovered a pair of fumbles… earned Big South Freshman of the Week honors twice and was named to the 2016 Jerry Rice Award Watch List, annually given to the FCS Freshman Player of the Year… his five interceptions set a Big South Conference freshman record… led the FCS with 185 defensive return yards, including 111 fumble return yards… scored on a 60-yard fumble return versus Benedict and on a 42-yard interception return at Liberty… also had a 51-yard fumble return against Coastal Carolina… posted a career-high 10 tackles and an interception at Ohio… sealed the win over No. 8 Charleston Southern with an interception in the end zone in the final seconds.

HIGH SCHOOL

Was a three-year starter for Byrnes (S.C.) High under head coach Brian Lane… graduated in 2016… standout all-around performer at defensive back, receiver and return specialist… helped the Rebels to a 12-2 mark in 2015 and to 48 wins over his four-year career… played in wins over nationally-ranked foes Apopka (Fla.) High, Concord (Calif.) De La Salle and Mallard Creek (N.C.) High… named Division I Class 4A All-State by the S.C. High School Sports Report and earned first-team All-Area and All-Region honors following senior season at defensive back… had nearly 1,400 all-purpose yards and scored 13 touchdowns as a senior… caught 28 passes for 471 yards and seven touchdowns, averaged 28.3 yards on 20 kickoff returns with a touchdown and 15.3 yards on 15 punt returns with two scores… also rushed for three TDs… recorded 49 tackles, three interceptions and broke up six passes… selected to play in the 2015 Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas… caught 16 passes for 311 yards and five touchdowns as a junior as part of a 12-2 finish for the Rebels in 2014… picked off five passes, broke up 10 passes and had two fumble recoveries in the secondary… started as a sophomore in the secondary for the Rebels in 2013… recorded 44 tackles and two interceptions… earned All-Area honors in basketball as a junior after averaging 12.4 points, 5.5 assists and 6.4 rebounds.

PERSONAL

Jaylan W. Foster was born Jan. 20, 1998… is a retail management major who graduated in 2020.