South Carolina Football: Ranking the top-20 NFL Gamecocks of all-time
By Kevin Miller
South Carolina Football’s No. 11 Greatest NFL Player of All-Time:
Offensive Lineman Travelle Wharton
Travelle Wharton (2000-2003) is one of the best players to ever play in Williams-Brice Stadium, regardless of position. As a true freshman, Wharton won the starting left tackle spot for the Gamecock and never gave it back during his All-American career. Despite being undersized for the tackle position, the Carolina Panthers took a chance on Wharton in the 2004 NFL Draft and moved him inside to guard.
The move paid off for the Panthers and Wharton as Carolina secured a starter at guard for most of the next decade (he signed a 1-year deal with the Cincinnati Bengals but didn’t play before an injury ended his season and he returned to Carolina). Wharton never made a Pro Bowl but was considered a snub for the NFL’s All-Star Game on multiple occasions.
Since finishing his playing days, Wharton has become a coach and even spent a season working with the offensive line at the University of South Carolina. He is entering his sixth year coaching in the NFL.