A South Carolina football team player made national news on Saturday. Running back Nathan Harris-Waynick was featured on NBC Nightly News detailing his story of being in and out of an orphanage until he finally found his home forever and then home to college football.
Harris Waynick, just after the arrival of the first year head coach Shane Beamer, received a letter of acceptance for the University of South Carolina and also had the opportunity to join the Gamecocks football team. The reaction of the family, and particularly his grandfather, Harold Waynick, caused the video to go viral.
NBC Nightly News resource | Satterfield shoots for an exciting attack
After spending time in and out of an orphanage, Nathan Harris-Waynick found his eternal home at age 12. His eternal family was there to support him when he was accepted at the University of South Carolina and even offered a spot on the team football. https://t.co/3UEnxeTqAf
– NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt (@NBCNightlyNews) January 17, 2021
Christmas decorations in the background, Harold read the letter, threw it up and went to hug his grandson.
“It surprised me,” said Harold Waynick in the NBC Nightly News clip. “It was the happiest moment of my life.”
Nathan said he knew that God had a plan for him, not necessarily to succeed in football, but the plan for him to have a family.
“It’s crazy to think about,” Nathan Harris-Waynick said. “I still think it’s a dream.”
Harris-Waynick, who signed up to start the spring semester with the Gamecocks, ran 1,168 yards and 18 touchdowns in 193 runs, according to The Sumter Item. He averaged 146.0 yards per game and 6.1 yards per load. Harris-Waynick also had four 46-yard receptions.
“I started doing my research and talking to your high school coaches,” said Beamer. “The more I found out, the more I liked it.”
According to reports by Mike Uva of WACH Fox, Harris-Waynick lived in and out of Crosswell Home for Children for seven years until he was 12.
Harris-Waynick will enter a race room with four fellows who have already signed up, along with another pair of escorts. Running back Kevin Harris, who will be in his second year again next season, led the Southeast Conference in running yards at the end of the regular season and was the first Gamecock to eclipse the 1,000 yard mark since Mike Davis did in 2014. Harris ran for 1,138 yards this season with 15 touchdowns.