Clayton White said redshirt senior Jamian Risher Jr. — a Varnville, SC native — is leading to be the Gamecocks' No. 4 LB this year.
Risher sat in the student section as a freshman before walking on the team in 2023. @mcsauls wrote about him last week.
https://t.co/InYJTfhF3F
The Jake Panus Walk On Football Scholarship proudly announces Jamian Risher, Jr. as the 2026 recipient of the scholarship at the @UofSC@GamecocksOnline@GamecockFB
Risher becomes the sixth walk-on Gamecock football student-athlete to receive the scholarship and the 10th overall recipient since the scholarship program was established six years ago. In addition to the six South Carolina football honorees, four Jake Panus Walk On Scholarships have been awarded to graduating seniors from Red Cloud Indian School in Pine Ridge, South Dakota, extending Jake’s legacy of resilience, opportunity, and hope far beyond the football field. A third Jake Panus Walk On Scholarship provides a pathway to college for young student-athletes who participate in the 4th through 8th grade Cowboys football program at the Wakeman Boys & Girls Club (Smilow-Burroughs Clubhouse) in Bridgeport, CT, and who remain active members of the club through their high school years.
Created in memory of Jake Panus, whose life was tragically cut short on August 9, 2020 at age 16, and in partnership with South Carolina Head Football Coach Shane Beamer (a former walk-on player himself) and the University of South Carolina Athletic Department, the endowed football scholarship recognizes walk-on student-athletes who reflect the same qualities that defined Jake every day: unwavering leadership, relentless grit, quiet determination, compassion for others, and a commitment to making their communities better.
A two-time SEC Academic Honor Roll selection, Risher has quietly built a reputation for doing things the right way. As he enters the 2026 season, he is expected to make meaningful contributions on the Gamecocks’ special teams while adding valuable depth at linebacker. But those closest to the program know his greatest contributions extend well beyond the field.
“Jake believed that how you treat people is every bit as important as what you accomplish,” said Jake’s father, Stephen Panus, founder of the Jake Panus Walk On Scholarships. “This scholarship is designed to reward walk-on student athletes who show up every day, who make everyone around them better, who choose humility over recognition and service over self. Jamian embodies that spirit in every sense. He has demonstrated excellence in the classroom, commitment to his teammates, perseverance through hard work, and the type of character that inspires those around him. We are honored to recognize him and welcome him into the Walk On family.”
The scholarship’s name carries special meaning. The phrase “Walk On” speaks to more than football. It is a way of living and a mindset. It means continuing when life becomes unimaginably difficult. Choosing hope after heartbreak. Finding purpose through adversity. Showing up for teammates, family, and community even when no one notices.
“What has been most inspiring isn’t simply watching these young student-athletes receive a scholarship,” Panus said. “It’s watching them become leaders. Watching them understand that the greatest legacy any of us leaves isn’t found on a scoreboard or résumé. It’s found in the lives we touch.”
To learn more about the Jake Panus Walk On Scholarships, visit https://t.co/mTGsZXHyeB.
To support the Jake Panus Walk On Football Scholarship at the University of South Carolina, visit: https://t.co/K0sCswQYt5