South Carolina football: NFL Draft grades for Gamecock players
By Jacob Elsey
5 South Carolina football players considered top 200 NFL draft prospects.
The NFL Draft is right around the corner, and a handful of South Carolina football players will look to take their talents to the next level following productive college careers. Those representing the Gamecocks include Jaycee Horn, Israel Mukuamu, Shi Smith, Ernest Jones, and Sadarius Hutcherson, all of which have been considered by PFF to be top 200 prospects.
You can expect to hear at least one of these Gamecocks’ names on each day of the draft, with the action likely kicking off mid first round. Horn is widely viewed as one of the top three cornerbacks in the college ranks, and could come off the board as early as No. 10 to the Cowboys. Most peg him to fall somewhere in the range of No. 12 and No. 25.
According to PFF, Horn allowed just 65 receptions on 124 targets over his three seasons in Columbia. That includes a freshman year where he didn’t surrender a touchdown in coverage, and a junior season where he led the SEC by allowing opposing pass catchers to haul in just 33% of their targets. He was thrown at just 24 times last year over 239 snaps in coverage.
Because of those impressive numbers, Horn is considered the be the 14th best player in the draft, regardless of position, as well as the No. 2 cornerback. Scouts admire his tenacity, confidence, and, obviously, his measurables.
"Horn has the athleticism and mindset of a man corner at the NFL level – he’s not going to back down from anyone. He allowed only eight catches from 24 targets for 116 yards across seven games this year."
Horn will look to follow in his father’s (Joe) footsteps with a lengthy professional career.