South Carolina Football’s No. 3 Greatest Kick/Punt Returner of All-time:
WR/Wing-Back Sterling Sharpe
Sterling Sharpe (1983-1987) was one of the greatest wide receivers in the history of South Carolina football, but he was also a really good returner. His kickoff return against Duke was one of the best in school history. That was not his only return touchdown, however, as his now-retired #2 jersey found the end zone for the fifth time in 1987 against teams from Virginia (3 rushing touchdowns vs. Virginia Tech; 1 receiving touchdown and a punt return touchdown vs. Virginia) with his 59-yard punt return.
When Sharpe got to the NFL, he began his career as the Green Bay Packers starter at both kick returner and punt returner, but that lasted just a few games as he proved himself too valuable to lose to an injury on special teams. Unfortunately, that would eventually happen to Sharpe as his Hall of Fame career was derailed by a neck injury that never allowed him to play again.