2023 NFL Scouting Combine: How the Gamecocks Performed in Indianapolis
By Kevin Miller
The NFL Scouting Combine allows draft-eligible players to showcase to NFL teams why they should be drafted. An invitation-only event, former Gamecocks Cam Smith, Darius Rush, Zacch Pickens, Jovaughn Gwyn, and Jalen Brooks were 5 of the 319 players who participated in Indianapolis over the last week.
Being a defensive lineman, Zacch Pickens did most of his work on Thursday and early Friday. He impressed scouts with his performance, posting a 4.89 second 40-yard dash and a 9’8″ broad jump. His positional drills went very well, too, and he was noted by several NFL Draft analysts as being one of the Combine’s best performers.
Defensive backs Cam Smith and Darius Rush were next up on Friday. Rush continued his ascension up draft boards as he ran a blazing (and official) 4.36 second in the 40-yard dash, one of the fastest times of all players. He weighed in at 198 and measured 6’2″ with an 80″ wingspan. Smith tested well (4.43 second 40-yard dash and above average size), but some outlets are reporting his interviews did not go well with several teams.
Wide receiver Jalen Brooks looked extremely impressive in his position drills (and while catching balls during Stetson Bennett’s quarterback position drills). However, his official testing numbers were less impressive. He ran a slower-than-expected 4.69 in the 40-yard dash and posted a 35″ vertical jump.
Jovaughn Gwyn is smaller than most NFL offensive linemen. He measured in at just 6’2″ and 297 pounds. He performed well athletically with a 5.12 40-yard dash and 9’1″ broad jump. His 31.75″ arms are shorter than most linemen, but this is typically not as big of a deal for interior linemen like Gwyn.
All in all, the Combine was a positive showing for the Gamecock alums. Rush and Pickens almost certainly had their draft stocks rise, and Cam Smith performed extremely well. Gwyn is small, but that was likely known before the Combine, so his good testing numbers should do nothing but help him. Even before his poor testing numbers, Brooks was unlikely to be drafted, so his positive showing during drills should benefit him as he seeks to latch on somewhere as a free agent.