South Carolina Football: Long-time Gamecock starter gets NFL deal

South Carolina football had five players drafted in the 2023 NFL Draft. Cam Smith went 51st overall to the Miami Dolphins, Zacch Pickens was drafted by the Chicago Bears with the 64th pick, and Darius Rush was taken off the board as a later-than-expected 5th-round pick by the Indianapolis Colts. Jovaughn Gwyn and Jalen Brooks were selected in the 7th round by the Atlanta Falcons and Dallas Cowboys, respectively. It didn’t take long after the draft for several Gamecocks to sign undrafted free agent contracts with NFL clubs.

Eric Douglas, a long-time starter at center for the Gamecocks, signed an undrafted free agent contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Douglas’ Gamecock career was marked by one thing: football IQ. A six-year collegiate player, he started much of four seasons in the middle of the offensive line and was known for making almost every protection call on the offensive line. In his final regular season game, a camera captured Douglas and quarterback Spencer Rattler imploring then-Gamecock offensive coordinator Marcus Satterfield to “get the ball to Juice [Wells]” for the pivotal 4th down conversion against the rival Clemson Tigers. The call worked and sealed Carolina’s first victory over the Clemson Tigers since 2013.

Now a member of the Buccaneers, Douglas will be fighting for a spot on the active roster. Offensive line reserve roster spots are some of the hardest roster spots to secure in the NFL as the league has strict roster limitations that caused teams to (usually) keep only 3-6 backups across the entire unit on the active roster.

Douglas is almost-assuredly is a center at the pro level as he is just under tackle size and has spent limited time anywhere other than in the middle. Theoretically, he could play guard, as well, but his game fits best as a center.

Douglas joins Josh Vann and Nate Adkins as Gamecocks who have signed undrafted free agent contracts in the hours since the 2023 NFL Draft.