South Carolina Football’s GOAT Series: Top-10 greatest tight ends of all-time

One of the most interesting positions in South Carolina football history is the tight end position. Despite the low volume of total NFL Draft picks at tight end, multiple first-round draft picks have played the position for the Gamecocks. Some of the best tight ends in school history were basically big receivers, others were like athletic offensive linemen, while some could do it all.

With a three-man transfer class at the position, at least three incoming freshmen playing tight end, and a stud committed in the 2024 class, perhaps this list will need updating in a few years. Let’s take a look at the greatest tight ends in the history of Gamecock football.

Honorable Mentions

Justice Cunningham: Justice Cunningham (2009-2012) played with receiving threats like Weslye Saunders, Busta Anderson, and Jerell Adams but was one of the best blocking tight ends to play in garnet and black. His toughness helped set the tone in the run game, but, ironically, it was best personified in a catch his senior year: trailing against one of the best Vanderbilt teams ever, Cunningham pulled down a first down despite getting his helmet knocked off. Cunningham popped up, shook his dreads, and went back out and blocked for Marcus Lattimore’s game-winning score.

Johnny Gregory: A tight end from an era that welcomed players of all sizes, Johnny Gregory (1964-1968) was only 175 pounds. Because he played part of his career in the same offense as Fred Zeigler and lots of solid running backs, Gregory did not get the ball much. He overcame his small stature to be an integral blocker on the perimeter for Head Coach Paul Dietzel’s offenses. His big offensive outburst came against ACC foe Wake Forest when he torched the Demon Deacons for three touchdowns.

Jaheim Bell: Jaheim Bell (2020-2022) was one of the most talented tight ends to ever play at Carolina. He was a legitimate deep threat as he showed in a dominant performance in the 2021 Duke’s Mayo Bowl against North Carolina. Bell was athletic enough that he joined the running back rotation, and when injuries limited the position, he even saw some starts. Bell had a complicated relationship with his coaches and the fans and eventually transferred to Florida State during the 2022-2023 offseason.

Nick Muse: A transfer from FCS College of William and Mary, Nick Muse (2019-2021) spent three years in Columbia. Muse was a balanced tight end who shared duties with Kyle Markway, Jaheim Bell, and Keveon Mullins but still stood out enough to be drafted in the 2022 NFL Draft by the Minnesota Vikings. Muse had one of his best moments in the 2019 upset of the 3rd-ranked Georgia Bulldogs when he caught a crucial first down conversion from fill-in quarterback Dakereon Joyner that allowed the Gamecocks to take things to overtime and, eventually, win the game.

Hart Turner: Hart Turner (2000-2003) was a blocking tight end who became a team captain. After being passed up by his coaches for the honor, Turner’s teammates held a meeting with the staff to demand his inclusion as a captain. He was seldom used in the passing game until his final year but was a road grader in the run game, opening holes for backs like Derek Watson, Andrew Pinnock, and Ryan Brewer. As a senior, Turner found a role as a receiver, catching over 200 yards worth of passes from quarterback Dondrial Pinkins. He had a brief career in NFL Europe after graduating.

John Rowland: A tight end from way back, John Rowland (1932-1935) played for Head Coaches Billy Laval and Don McCallister. Rowland was the first tight end to score two touchdowns in a game for the Gamecocks when against VMI he caught a touchdown and returned a blocked punt for a score. Rowland played in an era where stats and official records are hard to come by, but the best #37 prior to Steve Wadiak was an important part of three straight winning seasons in an extremely tough Southern Conference that included much of the modern SEC and ACC.

Kyle Markway: Often injured, Kyle Markway (2015-2019) managed to only see the field in 8 games in four seasons before his final year as a Gamecock. 2019 saw a finally-healthy Markway have a great season in which he caught over 30 balls and demonstrated solid blocking ability. He had another year of eligibility due to medical redshirts but elected to pursue an NFL opportunity. He played for three seasons in the League before moving on to the USFL.

Marty Woolbright: Marty Woolbright (1971-1973) was a former quarterback who converted to tight end to get on the field. Playing in a run-heavy system, he was a very smart and tough blocker who led the way for running quarterback Jeff Grantz and a host of solid running backs led by Jay Lynn Hodgin. Woolbright developed into a good receiver before leaving South Carolina, hauling in 50 catches in his career. The 6’5″ Woolbright caught four touchdowns as a senior before getting drafted in the seventh round by the New York Giants.

Chris Corley: A massive man, the 6’5″ and 285-pound Chris Corley (1981-1984) was part of a two-headed monster at tight end for the 1984 “Black Magic” season along with emerging freshman Danny Smith. Smith was the athlete, and Corley was the mauler. Corley was an effective receiver during that 1984 season as he was difficult to bring down after the catch. He secured over half of his career yards and touchdowns that season and averaged over 20 yards per catch. Corley’s blocking ability and fluid mobility for a big man led him to a brief career in the NFL.

South Carolina Football’s No. 10 Tight End of All-Time:
Matthew Campbell

Matt Campbell (1990-1993) is probably the best blocking tight end in South Carolina history. He only caught 24 passes in his four years as a Gamecock, but he continued to start and play a large number of snaps because of his impact freeing up other players.

Brandon Bennett was one of the best backs to play for South Carolina, and he picked up a large portion of his yards running behind Campbell. The big tight end finished his career at South Carolina and spent eight more years in the NFL. His NFL career saw him embrace blocking even further as the Carolina Panthers moved him inside to guard, where he started almost 60 games for the franchise at the position. He is now a high school coach in South Carolina.

South Carolina Football’s No. 9 Tight End of All-Time:
Jerell Adams

A big-time talent who played alongside Busta Anderson and Justice Cunningham at the tight end spot, Jerell Adams (2012-2015) was the most balanced tight end of the bunch. Possessing one of the biggest catch radiuses in Gamecock history, Adams also was a load to bring down after the catch as he showed in an impressive touchdown against Kentucky.

Had the Summerton, South Carolina native not played during such a loaded time for Gamecock tight ends, his numbers may have ended up as some of the best ever in garnet and black, despite the fact that he played with five different starting quarterbacks in four seasons. After graduating from the University of South Carolina, he was drafted by the New York Giants and had a six-year NFL career.

South Carolina Football’s No. 8 Tight End of All-Time:
Patrick DiMarco

Perhaps a controversial inclusion, Pat DiMarco (2007-2010) played part of his career as a true fullback, part of his career as a true tight end, and most of his career as a combo fullback/tight end/h-back. As Head Coach Steve Spurrier grew to appreciate DiMarco’s abilities, he became an integral part of the HBC’s offenses. An elite blocker from fullback, tight end, and h-back, #47 cleared the way for generational talents like Marcus Lattimore and Alshon Jeffery.

He did score 6 touchdowns (all receiving), but stats cannot quantify his true value to the Gamecocks. That value translated to the next level as DiMarco became a Pro Bowler and All-Pro at fullback in the National Football League. The former Gamecock captain now works for the South Carolina football program in a role in football relations and NIL.

South Carolina Football’s No. 7 Tight End of All-Time:
Weslye Saunders

Weslye Saunders (2007-2009) is a “what if” story at tight end. He was a backup but still productive tight end (earned Freshman All-American honors in 2007) behind Jared Cook for two seasons in Columbia before breaking out as a junior. In an offense that struggled at times in 2009, Saunders caught over 30 balls and seemed primed to have an elite season in 2010 as the offense was going to be drastically improved.

In what is now known as the “Whitney Hotel Scandal,” Saunders received a heavy-handed punishment that saw him ineligible to play football. For the crime of having a booster pay for Saunders to stay at a local hotel (something legal today), he was suspended. Assumed contact with an agent then compounded the issue and led to Saunders missing his entire senior season. After leaving South Carolina, he had a five-year NFL career.

South Carolina Football’s No. 6 Tight End of All-Time:
Rory “Busta” Anderson

One of the most athletic tight ends to ever play at South Carolina, Busta Anderson (2011-2014) was a matchup nightmare who didn’t have enough passes thrown his way during his college career. After a solid sophomore campaign that saw him catch 5 touchdown passes, Anderson dealt with nagging injuries in his final two seasons in Columbia that forced him to miss a handful of games and play hurt in several others.

He was not much of a blocker, but Busta was adept at coming down with jump balls, doing so for a big touchdown against Georgia his senior year. After finishing his career with the most touchdown catches of any tight end in school history, Anderson was drafted in the 2015 NFL draft and had a short NFL career.

South Carolina Football’s No. 5 Tight End of All-Time:
Doug Hamrick

Doug Hamrick (1969-1070) was the tight end for the 1969 ACC Champion Gamecocks and held the receptions and yardage records for tight ends upon his graduation. Depending on how one classifies Danny Smith, Hamrick held onto those records for between 16 and 46 years.

He was a good blocker for Tommy Suggs, Warren Muir, and company early in his career, but Hamrick made his biggest mark in his final season. In an era where few tight ends caught many passes, Hamrick pulled down almost 40 passes from Suggs in 1970 that went for over 400 yards and 5 touchdowns.

South Carolina Football’s No. 4 Tight End of All-Time:
Willie Scott

Willie Scott (1977-1980) was the second Gamecock selected in the first round of the 1981 NFL Draft when he was picked with the 14th overall pick by the Kansas City Chiefs (Heisman trophy winner George Rogers went 1st overall to the New Orleans Saints). Scott excelled as one of the lead blockers on Rogers’s favorite play: the toss sweep.

He was not only a blocker, however, as Scott also caught over 60 passes in his career despite playing in a run-heavy offensive attack. His most memorable moment came as a junior when he set up the Gamecocks’ game-winning touchdown over the rival Clemson Tigers with a 60-yard run after the catch (video linked above). Scott spent 9 seasons playing in the NFL where he caught 15 touchdowns.

South Carolina Football’s #3 Tight End of All-Time:
Danny Smith

Sometimes called a receiver because the run-and-shoot offense he played half of his career in utilized stand-up tight ends split out, Danny Smith (1984-1987) belongs in the all-time great tight end discussion. As a matter of fact, Smith owned several South Carolina tight end records at the time of his graduation, including receiving yards and touchdowns.

Smith put up impressive career numbers despite playing at the same time as tight end Chris Corley, running back Harold Green, and receivers Sterling Sharpe and Ryan Bethea. He was one of three players, joining the aforementioned Sharpe and Bethea, to have over 500 receiving yards in 1987. A physically impressive player, Smith had a short NFL career before becoming a 2-way superstar in the Arena Football League as a receiving tight end and outside linebacker.

South Carolina Football’s No. 2 Tight End of All-Time:
Jared Cook

Jared Cook (2006-2008) is the most talented tight end to ever play at South Carolina. The 6’5″, 250-pound Cook was an elite athlete who had the ability to go up and get the ball in the air but was also an elite mover for a tight end. His 2008 highlight video shows his abilities, but less-than-ideal quarterback play and a struggle with drops early in his career limited his production.

Cook caught 67 balls for just under 1000 yards and 6 scores in his sophomore and junior seasons before being selected in the third round of the 2009 NFL Draft. Cook had a 13-year career in the league where he was a multi-time Pro Bowler and had some memorable postseason catches.

South Carolina Football’s Greatest Tight End of All-Time:
Hayden Hurst

A former professional baseball player, Hayden Hurst (2015-2017) walked on at South Carolina as a wide receiver before earning a scholarship as a tight end after bulking up during the 2015-2016 offseason. His impact was immediate after the position change as he caught over 90 balls for almost 1200 yards in two seasons, including this ridiculously nonchalant one-handed grab in a win against Florida.

Hurst was also a good blocker and carried the ball in some short-yardage situations in a play called the “Dump Truck Sweep.” Hurst was picked in the first round of the 2018 draft and is still a contributor in the NFL where he has spent time with the Baltimore Ravens, Atlanta Falcons, and Cincinnati Bengals.