South Carolina Football: Top-15 Gamecock NFL Draft successes of all-time
By Kevin Miller
South Carolina Football’s No. 8 NFL Draft Success:
RB George Rogers
George Rogers (Round 1, Pick 1, 1981 NFL Draft; New Orleans Saints) won the Heisman Trophy to cap off a stellar career in garnet and black that ran from 1977-1980. Rogers was the first overall pick (and one of two first-rounders from Carolina) in the 1981 NFL Draft and had one of the greatest rookie seasons in NFL history. Big George racked up over 1800 yards from scrimmage and 13 touchdowns en route to his NFL Rookie of the Year award and was selected as a first-team All-Pro, something less than 1% of NFL rookies have ever accomplished.
Rogers battled addiction and spent several stints in rehab during his playing days, derailing what should have been a Hall of Fame career. When he was healthy and clean, Rogers was tremendous in the NFL, averaging well over 1100 yards per season in his five healthy campaigns. He led the NFL in yards in 1981 with the Saints and in touchdowns in 1986 with the Washington Redskins, but injuries and his off-field struggles had him out of the league after the 1987 season, ending a great career that should have been even greater.