South Carolina Football: Ranking the top-20 NFL Gamecocks of all-time

South Carolina Football’s No. 3 Greatest NFL Player of All-Time:
Cornerback Stephon Gilmore

Stephon Gilmore (2009-2011) was an All-American for South Carolina football and led the Gamecocks into its most successful stretch of play in the history of the program. Somehow, his career became even greater at the professional level.

After becoming a 1st-round pick of the Buffalo Bills, Gilmore began an incredible career that is still going strong at age 33. So far, Gilmore has made five Pro Bowls and has been selected to three All-Pro teams, including in 2019 when he won the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year award after leading the sport in both interceptions and passes defended.

Gilmore won a Super Bowl with the New England Patriots and finished 2nd in MVP voting for the game. He played in another Super Bowl with the Patriots and shut down former college teammate Alshon Jeffery. After being switched onto Jeffery (who had 73 yards and a touchdown before matching up with Gilmore) in the late first half, the Eagles receiver did not catch another pass.

Gilmore is still a sought-after player after 13 years in the League. His signing with the Dallas Cowboys this offseason was viewed as one of the biggest needle-movers of the free agency period. With more football in front of him, Gilmore eventually may go down as the best Gamecock to ever play in the NFL and has a chance to be the first USC alum to be elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.