South Carolina Football: Gamecock Starter Joins Senior Bowl Roster

The 2023 Reese’s Senior Bowl game is this Saturday, but that does not mean that Senior Bowl representatives and the NFL scouts present at the Mobile, Alabama all-star game aren’t still looking for talent. South Carolina football’s Jovaughn Gwyn has joined teammates Darius Rush and Zacch Pickens in southern Alabama after receiving a late invitation.

During his career as a Gamecock, Gwyn started 47 games as a guard but also saw some snaps at center, a position some in the NFL think is his most natural fit at the next level. Despite being one of the smaller members of the Gamecocks’ offensive line unit, he was one of the program’s strongest players, and that strength was especially translatable to Gwyn’s role in the run game.

South Carolina football fans will be happy to hear that both Darius Rush and Zacch Pickens have been named as standouts during practice. According to Reel Analytics founder Cory Yates, both former Gamecocks are among the top performers at Senior Bowl practice based on both production and athletic performance. Gwyn will look to add his name to that list when he arrives for the final practice on Thursday. Pickens is expected to be a draft pick during April’s NFL Draft, while Rush and Gwyn are expected to be picked up by teams in free agency if they do not hear their names called.

Gwyn will not be on the same team as Rush and Pickens during Senior Bowl festivities as he will be joining the National team. His South Carolina football peers will be competing opposite Gwyn for the American squad. Because of their positions, there is the potential for defensive tackle Zacch Pickens to line up across from his college teammate Gwyn at guard or center during the game, something the two experienced for four years at practice during their time together in Columbia.

The 2023 Senior Bowl will be broadcast live on NFLNetwork and NFL.com at 2:30 EST on Saturday, February 4th.