South Carolina Football: Top-15 Gamecock NFL Draft successes of all-time

South Carolina football's Travelle Wharton blocking for the Carolina Panthers. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
South Carolina football's Travelle Wharton blocking for the Carolina Panthers. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /
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South Carolina Football
South Carolina football retired Sterling Sharpe’s #2 jersey. FILE PHOTO; Mandatory Credit: USA TODAY Sports /

South Carolina Football’s No. 4 NFL Draft Success:
WR Sterling Sharpe

One of the biggest “what if” stories in NFL history, Sterling Sharpe (Round 1, Pick 7, 1988 NFL Draft; Green Bay Packers) got off to one of the best starts for any wide receiver to play the game. After dominating in college from 1983-1987, Sharpe kept it up in the NFL. He led the league in catches 3 times, including breaking the single-season receptions record twice, and led the NFL in touchdowns twice. Sharpe won the “Triple Crown” by leading the league in catches, yards, and touchdowns in the same season, something that has only happened eight times in league history.

Sharpe tragically had his career cut short by a neck injury. An obvious Hall of Famer with just a couple more years in the league, Sharpe was only able to play seven seasons before the injury. He was inducted into the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame, joining fellow Gamecock wide receiver Robert Brooks in receiving the honor.