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With a number of upcoming graduates set to make decisions on their futures in the next few days, at least one key Commodore has already chosen to come back for the 2023 season. Starting safety Jaylen Mahoney will return to Vanderbilt for a fifth season, a source with knowledge of the situation told 247Sports, utilizing his extra year of eligibility thanks to the NCAA's COVID-19 blanket waiver.

Mahoney is among the Commodores' most experienced players, having appeared in 39 career games across multiple positions. In 2022, Mahoney moved to safety and made 55 total tackles with seven tackles for loss, four pass break-ups and one interceptions. The former 3-star recruit out of Rock Hill (S.C.) South Pointe played right away as a freshman in 2019 and has been one of Vanderbilt's top players since.

As a freshman and sophomore, Mahoney primarily played nickel cornerback and even started at outside linebacker against Tennessee in 2020 when Vanderbilt ran short of players due to COVID-19 and opt-outs. When coach Clark Lea arrived ahead of the 2021 season, Mahoney moved to outside cornerback. Mahoney primarily played safety this past season, although he at times slid down toward the line of scrimmage in certain packages. He tied Vanderbilt's all-time record for most tackles for loss in one game with five against Missouri on Oct. 22.

If Mahoney continues to play safety, he will help solidify a position that poses significant questions moving forward. Vanderbilt has multiple young safeties on its roster — such as Steven Sannieniola and John Howse IV — who could step into starting roles next season opposite Mahoney. Alternatively, the Commodores could take a veteran transfer at the position. De'Rickey Wright started at safety for much of the season but could be better suited to linebacker if he returns for the 2023 campaign.

When discussing Mahoney's role in mentoring Vanderbilt's young defensive backs, Lea said last week that Mahoney has been growing into a new position. For the first time at Vanderbilt, Mahoney could have the same responsibilities for two seasons in a row if he remains at safety in 2023.

"I think the challenge like for Jaylen, for example, is he has really had to learn a new position this year," Lea said. "There's some carryover from his past, but he has played deep. That's what he has done this season, and that has been kind of a new world for him where he has had to adjust a little bit that way after having played corner and nickel for us more a year ago."

Since solidifying its second ACC Coastal Division title three weeks ago, and knowing the ACC championship matchup with Clemson was forthcoming, North Carolina lost its final two games of the regular season.

Yet the Tar Heels are not harboring those losses during their week of preparation to meet the Tigers. UNC coach Mack Brown said their focus was on being positioned to win the school’s first conference title since 1980.

“None of these kids have ever been in this championship game, so they’ll be really excited about it,” Brown said. “We haven’t played Clemson since four years ago. Next year, we play in Death Valley. Playing Clemson is an exciting thing. It’s a great challenge. And they know that they’re playing as good a group of athletes as anybody has in the country. So it’ll be a fun challenge for us.”

The Heels’ only other appearance in the ACC championship game was in 2015, when a controversial penalty nullified an onside kick recovery and they lost to Clemson, 45-37.

Carolina is tied for eighth nationally with 32 fourth down conversion attempts. It’s as much a part of the Heels offensive identity at this point as quarterback Drake Maye is. In a game where Brown will likely operate as if they need touchdowns to win the game and not field goals, expect the Heels to continue to do what got them to the title game.

UNC ranks 15th in the nation with a conversion rate of 65.6 percent.

What makes things a bit riskier on Saturday though, is that Clemson is just as adept at stopping its opponents on fourth down. The Tigers rank 17th nationally, one spot behind N.C. State, having allowed just nine conversions all season for a percentage of 39.1.

D.J. Uiagalelei, QB: The embattled junior is coming off his worst performance this season, completing just eight passes for 99 yards in the Tigers’ loss to South Carolina. He’s still very much a threat. He threw for 371 yards and five touchdowns against Wake Forest.

Will Shipley, RB: The Weddington, N.C., native was second in the ACC in rushing yards per game and rushing touchdowns. He is the only player in the nation with more than 950 yards rushing, 150 or more yards receiving and more than 200 yards in kickoff returns this season.

Tyler Davis, DT: It’s really hard to single out one player from Clemson’s defensive line. K.J. Henry has 22 quarterback pressures. Myles Murphy leads the team with 6.5 sacks. Davis, despite missing two games, has four sacks and 15 quarterback pressures, but plays the run better than anyone else.

Drake Maye, QB: Maye seemed impervious to hitting the proverbial freshman wall, but the past two weeks Georgia Tech and N.C. State have made him look like a regular redshirt freshman by taking away the deep throws and making him be patient.

Elijah Green, RB: He doesn’t need a lot of room to be effective, which is why that and his speed might make him a factor against the Tigers. The Heels probably won’t have many open lanes to run and Green is decisive enough and quick enough to make the most of his chances.

Cedric Gray, LB: Between Shipley and Uiagalelei, Gray will be on a collision course throughout the game. Gray continues to lead the ACC in tackles per game with a 10.8 average.

Who: UNC (9-3, 6-2) vs. Clemson (10-2, 8-0)

Where: Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte

When: 8 p.m., Saturday

TV: ABC

Stream: ESPN+

The Tigers are a 7.5-point favorite, according to VegasInsider.com.

ROCK HILL, S.C. — A new report shows a nearly 40-percent increase in teacher vacancies in South Carolina compared to last year, and the numbers are having a real impact on local schools.

Teaching jobs used to see dozens of applications, now it’s hard to get even one applicant for certain positions, one administrator told Channel 9′s Tina Terry.

“I was not surprised to see the numbers, because every year we go down this path,” said Sherry East, a science teacher in Rock Hill.

East is referring to the recent report from the Center of Educator Recruitment, Retention and Advancement. It says this school year started with more than 1,400 vacant teacher positions in South Carolina, compared to a little over 1,000 last year. It’s a 39% increase in one year, and it’s up 165% over the past three years.

“I think it’s mainly pay and working conditions,” East said, pointing to those as the largest factors driving current teachers out of classrooms around the state. She said it’s also discouraging young people from becoming teachers.

“We’ve seen some colleges shut down their teacher education programs because a lot of young people don’t want to become teachers anymore,” East said.

Lancaster County Schools is just one local district feeling the impact. The district has about 35 teacher openings as of Wednesday.

“There are times now we post a job and we won’t get any applicants, and that’s scary,” said Lydia Quinn, the chief operations officer for the district.

Quinn says the district is trying new methods to draw teachers into the classroom.

“We’ve looked at foreign exchange programs with teachers, we’ve looked at virtual teachers, we’ve hired retirees, we’re working with student interns almost done with their program,” Quinn said.

While districts are working with students finishing up their programs, the report also said that the number of new teachers who were recent South Carolina college graduates went down to 17 percent. That number had ranged from 21 to 36 percent in previous years.

East says the only thing that will reverse this crisis is real change in the way teachers are treated and paid.

“Teachers have to go in early, stay late, they have to work weekends and give up time with their families in order to get the job done, and they’re tired of doing that,” East said.

The state’s minimum salary for teachers is $40,000. Lancaster County Schools says it’s already paying teachers about 13% over that minimum. District leaders say they’re also trying to make sure new applicants are aware of other benefits, like the state’s retirement and health care packages.

(WATCH BELOW >> Home alone: Couple accused of leaving 2-year-old in South Carolina apartment for NY trip)

South Carolina (7-4) at No. 7 Clemson (10-1, No. 8 CFP), Saturday, 12 p.m. EST (ABC)

FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK COLLEGE LINE: Clemson by 14 1/2.

Series record: Clemson leads 72-42-4.

WHAT’S AT STAKE?

Braggin’ rights, along with a chance at history for Clemson. The Tigers have won the past seven games over the rival Gamecocks. An eighth would mark the longest streak of success since these Palmetto State schools first played in 1896. A Clemson victory would also keep them in the mix for a College Football Playoff spot, although it would likely need outside help to jump into the top four.

KEY MATCHUP

South Carolina QB Spencer Rattler against Clemson's pass rush. Rattler has looked, well, rattled for much of the season until a stunning, 63-38, win over then-No. 5 Tennessee where he threw for 438 yards and a school record six touchdowns. The Tigers defense has been active since a 35-14 loss at Notre Dame on Nov. 5, collecting nine sacks in wins over Louisville and Miami the past two weeks.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

South Carolina: Jaheim Bell is an all-SEC tight end who has lined up at running back with leading rushers MarShawn Lloyd and Christian Beal-Smith hurt the past two weeks. Bell showed his versatility a week ago. He had 17 carries for 82 yards and six catches, two for touchdowns.

Clemson: LB Jeremiah Trotter Jr. has come into his own the past two weeks with 20 tackles combined in wins over Louisville and Miami. The son of the longtime NFL defender is second on the Tigers with 65 stops this season with six tackles for loss and five pass breakups.

FACTS & FIGURES

Clemson has won seven straight in the rivalry series following South Carolina's longest-ever run of success of five straight games from 2009-13. ... The Tigers would surpass the seven straight won by Clemson from 1934-40. ... South Carolina has lost six of the seven straight by 18 points or more, its closest defeat coming in a 37-32 loss in 2015. ... Clemson is seeking its 41st straight win at home to extend its ACC record. ... South Carolina special teams coordinator Pete Lembo is among 15 finalists for the Broyles Award, which goes to the top assistant in college football. ... South Carolina finished 4-4, third in the SEC East Division. It's the first time the Gamecocks have been at .500 or better in league play since Will Muschamp went 4-4 in 2018. ... A Clemson win would give them 11 or more wins for the eighth time in the past 11 seasons.

More AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/college-football and https://twitter.com/ap_top25. Sign up for the AP’s college football newsletter: https://tinyurl.com/mrxhe6f2

This story was originally published November 23, 2022 12:16 PM.

CHARLOTTE – Gardner-Webb football posted a near sweep of the Big South Conference's major awards Tuesday, hauling in a league-best 13 spots on the All-Conference Team.

On the heels of the program's first title in 19 seasons, Bailey Fisher (Clayton, Ga. / Rabun County HS) was named Offensive Player of the Year, Ty French (Moultrie, Ga. / Colquitt County HS) was named Defensive Player of the Year, Ty Anderson (Thomasville, Ga. / Thomasville HS) was named Defensive Freshman of the Year and William McRainey (Shallotte, N.C. / West Brunswick HS) was named Scholar-Athlete of the Year.

Tre Lamb was also named Big South Conference Coach of the Year.

Fisher completed 220-of-339 passes for 2,755 yards and 18 touchdowns during the regular season and ran for eight more touchdowns – leading a potent offense that averaged 40.8 points and 520.0 yards per game in league play.

Against Big South competition, Fisher was even more effective, tossing 13 touchdowns against only two interceptions in five games. He was named Big South Offensive Player of the Week five times and became the first quarterback in the past 30 years to post a pair of 400-yard passing games in the same season.

Fisher was added as a finalist for the Walter Payton Award – the FCS National Offensive Player of the Year – on Tuesday afternoon. He was also named first-team All-Big South. He enters the 2022 postseason with 10,874 career offensive yards and 9,733 career passing yards in 47 games played. That ranks third among active career leaders in NCAA Division I FCS.

French was a terror for a stout Gardner-Webb defense again in 2022, earning his third-straight All-Conference nod. The league's sack leader tied a Big South single-season mark with 11.0 sacks in 2022 and contributed 61 total tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss and 15 quarterback pressures. He also forced a fumble and recorded his first career interception.

The 6-foot-3, 230-pound junior is only one sack shy of Gardner-Webb's single-season mark, set by Chris Mintz in 1999. French has 35.0 tackles for loss and 22.5 sacks in 24 career games played.

Anderson proved to be one of the team's most versatile defenders, seeing action at multiple positions throughout the season. The 6-foot-1, 210-pounder finished the season with 33 total tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks and an interception – which he returned 45 yards for a score at Marshall on October 1.

McRainey, who earned his third-straight All-Big South Conference honor at linebacker, was also honored as the league's Scholar-Athlete of the Year for the first time. The team's leading tackler with 92 hits, McRainey carries a 3.59 cumulative GPA in his major of Economics and Finance.

A two-time Academic All-District selection, McRainey is an Academic All-America candidate in 2022.

In addition to his 92 stops, McRainey added 9.0 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, one interception and two fumble recoveries. He was named Big South Defensive Player of the Week twice in 2022.

Gardner-Webb had six men named first-team All-Big South Conference on offense, led by Fisher.

Running back Narii Gaither (Rock Hill, S.C. / Rock Hill HS), receivers TJ Luther (Arcadia, Fla. / Port Charlotte HS) and Cutrell Haywood (Stockton, Calif. / Stagg HS) and linemen Gabriel Thompson (Spartanburg, S.C. / Dorman HS) and Clayton Frady (Sylva, N.C. / Smoky Mountain HS) also earned first-team honors.

Gaither finished second in the Big South in rushing yardage despite missing five games with an injury early in the season. A testament to his value, Gardner-Webb was 6-1 with the 5-foot-10, 181-pound senior in the lineup.

Gaither carried 114 times for 668 yards and five touchdowns, averaging nearly six yards per carry. He had five games with 100 or more yards on the ground and passed the 2,000-yard mark for his career in Boiling Springs.

Luther was sensational as the team's deep threat in 2022, catching 57 passes for 1,072 yards and seven touchdowns. He ranks among the NCAA leaders in yardage, yards per catch and yards per game this season and had a program record seven games with 100+ yards through the air in 2022.

Luther is only the third receiver in the program's Division I era to post a 1,000-yard season.

Haywood had a career-best year as well, catching 70 passes for 714 yards and seven touchdowns. He led the Big South in receptions and posted six of his seven touchdowns against Big South opposition.

Frady and Thompson each started 11 games up front, clearing a path for the Big South's top offense. Gardner-Webb had the league's top rushing attack in Big South games (208.0 ypg) and posted a pair of 600+ yard efforts offensively for the first time in school history in the same season.

French and McRainey led a group of first-teamers on defense that included cornerback Raequan Ousley (Orlando, Fla. / Evans HS) and safety Jamari Brown (Miami, Fla. / Eastside (Ga.) HS).

Ousley finished his breakout regular season with 51 total tackles (27 solo), 16 pass break ups and two interceptions. He also recovered one fumble and forced two whie making 11 starts.

Brown collected 54 tackles in 2022, while also breaking up a pair of passes, picking off two passes and recovering a fumble. Brown also had a sack and a pair of tackles for loss. Brown had 13 combined tackles over the final two games of the season as Gardner-Webb secured the league's championship trophy.

The Gardner-Webb defense also had second-team selections in defensive tackle Janathian Turner (Atlanta, Ga. / Towers HS) and safety AJ Thomas (Acworth, Ga. / Allatoona HS).

Turner, one of the league's most underrated defenders, was an anchor in the middle for GWU in 2022. The 6-foot-3, 306-pound redshirt senior finished his final year with 45 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, 3.0 sacks and four quarterback pressures – despite constant double teams.

He has 17.0 tackles for loss and 160 total tackles for his career with the Runnin' Bulldogs.

Thomas was a ball hawk in the secondary for the 'Dogs, finishing the season with 40 total tackles, three interceptions and a fumble return. A three-year starter at safety, Thomas had two picks in the win over Bryant on October 29, including on in the end zone to thwart a scoring drive.

Long snapper Jamie WIlson (Kings Mountain, N.C. / Kings Mountain HS) was also named second-team All-Big South Conference. The redshirt freshman was the team's primary snapper on punts all season and finished with a pair of special teams tackles in addition to finishing with no turnovers on 48 punt attempts.

Jayden Brown (Lithonia, Ga. / MIller Grove HS) was runner up for Big South Offensive Freshman of the Year, missing the honor by just two points in the voting. The team's top reserve at running back has emerged as a dynamic threat in the last six games and has was named Big South Freshman of the Week three times in 2022.

Gardner-Webb (6-5, 5-0 Big South) will make the trip to Richmond, Ky., on Saturday to face Atlantic Sun Conference champion Eastern Kentucky (7-4, 5-2 A-Sun) in the first round of the 2022 NCAA Divsion I FCS Playoffs.

Kickoff is set for 5:00 pm on ESPN+. The game will also air live on WGNC (1450 AM / 101.1 FM) with Dave Friedman and Reginald Walker, Jr.

FIRST-TEAM ALL-CONFERENCE OFFENSE QB Bailey Fisher, R-Sr., Gardner-Webb RB Bhayshul Tuten, Soph., North Carolina A&T RB Narii Gaither, Jr., Gardner-Webb WR TJ Luther, R-Sr., Gardner-Webb WR Cutrell Haywood, Gr., Gardner-Webb WR Landon Ruggieri, Soph., Bryant TE Julian Hill, Sr., Campbell OL Gabe Thompson, R-Jr., Gardner-Webb OL Clayton Frady, Jr., Gardner-Webb OL Tairiq Stewart, Sr., North Carolina A&T OL Dacquari Wilson, Gr., North Carolina A&T OL Mike Edwards, R-Sr., Campbell

DEFENSE DL Ty French, Jr., Gardner-Webb DL Kenny Dyson, Sr., Bryant DL Devin Harrell, Gr., North Carolina A&T DL Jermaine McDaniel Jr., R-Sr., North Carolina A&T LB Joe Andreessen, Sr., Bryant LB Garrett Sayegh, Gr., Charleston Southern LB William McRainey, Jr., Gardner-Webb LB Tyquan King, Soph., North Carolina A&T DB Karon Prunty, R-Soph., North Carolina A&T DB Raequan Ousley, R-Soph., Gardner-Webb DB Jamari Brown, Sr., Gardner-Webb DB Kamron Smith, Soph., Charleston Southern

SPECIAL TEAMS PK Ethan Gettman, Soph., Bryant P David Gelb, Gr., Charleston Southern LS Jackson Hayes, Gr., Campbell KR Anthony Frederick, Sr., Bryant PR Josh McNeely, R-Sr., Campbell

SECOND-TEAM ALL-CONFERENCE OFFENSE QB Zevi Eckhaus, Soph., Bryant RB JD Moore, R-Soph., Charleston Southern RB Bryant Barr, Gr., Campbell WR Zach Leslie, Gr., North Carolina A&T WR Seth Anderson, Fr., Charleston Southern WR Vinson Davis III, Fr., Charleston Southern TE Jihad Edmond, Sr., Bryant OL Ricky Lee III, Gr., North Carolina A&T OL Isaiah Burch, Gr., Campbell OL Jamichael Watts, Sr., Bryant OL Korion Sharpe, Soph., North Carolina A&T OL Cesar Minarro, R-Soph., North Carolina A&T

DEFENSE DL Brevin Allen, R-Sr., Campbell DL Anton Williams, Gr., Charleston Southern DL Janathian Turner, R-Sr., Gardner-Webb DL Josh Johnson, R-Sr., Campbell LB Jacob Roberts, Jr., North Carolina A&T LB Ryan Saddler, Sr., Bryant LB CJ Tillman, Soph., Campbell LB Joe Casale, R-Jr., Robert Morris DB Hombre Kennedy, Gr., Charleston Southern DB Jamel Johnson, Fr., Charleston Southern DB Sydney Audiger, Gr., Robert Morris DB AJ Thomas, Sr., Gardner-Webb

SPECIAL TEAMS PK Caleb Dowden, Gr., Campbell P Corey Petersen, Gr., Campbell LS Jamie Wilson, R-Fr., Gardner-Webb KR Taymon Cooke, R-Jr., North Carolina A&T

ALL-ACADEMIC TEAM Ryan Saddler, LB, Sr., Bryant Keshawn Thompson, LB, Gr., Campbell Hombre Kennedy, DB, Gr., Charleston Southern William McRainey, LB, Jr., Gardner-Webb Nathaniel Spindle, DB, Soph., North Carolina A&T Hayden Baron, OL, Jr., Robert Morris

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR Bailey Fisher, QB, R-Sr., Gardner-Webb

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR Ty French, DE, Jr., Gardner-Webb

SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE YEAR Anthony Frederick, KR, Sr., Bryant

OFFENSIVE FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR Seth Anderson, WR, Fr., Charleston Southern

DEFENSIVE FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR Ty Anderson, LB, Fr., Gardner-Webb

COACH OF THE YEAR Tre Lamb, Gardner-Webb

SCHOLAR-ATHLETE OF THE YEAR William McRainey, LB, Jr., Gardner-Webb