South Carolina Football: Gamecock rookie corners set to play big roles for NFL teams in 2023
By Kevin Miller
South Carolina football alums Cam Smith and Darius Rush were drafted in the second and fifth rounds, respectively, in the 2023 NFL Draft. Smith went to the Miami Dolphins as the team’s first pick, and Rush went to the Colts. Both Gamecock corners could be in for big roles as rookies.
Smith is joining a loaded cornerback room as both Jalen Ramsey and Xavien Howard are former All-Pros at the position. However, with the state of the modern game of football, nickel corners are on the field almost as often as the lockdown players on the outside. Smith will have a chance to win the nickel job this preseason, and he is no stranger to the position.
While playing for the Gamecocks, Smith spent some time inside at nickel, especially in the Covid-shortened 2020 season. Smith’s willingness to tackle will serve him well in his pursuit of the nickel job this season for the Dolphins.
With Ramsey and Howard on the outside in Miami, Cam Smith likely will be tested often when on the field at nickel. This will serve as an audition of sorts for one of the primary corner jobs moving forward as many who follow the NFL believe Howard to be on his way out of Miami after this season as the Dolphins are looking for a way to avoid paying the entirety of his large contract.
Rush was drafted into a Colts’ situation in which all three main corners (the two outside and the slot nickel) seemed set. Kenny Moore II is expected to remain the starter in the slot, and fellow rookie Julius Brents is thought to be a favorite to start outside. However, one of the presumed starters on the outside, Isaiah Rodgers, was suspended indefinitely for betting on games.
This opens up a spot in Indy that many around the Colts believe will be filled by the former South Carolina football star. Rush was extremely impressive in rookie minicamp earlier this summer, and he profiles much better as an outside corner with his elite speed (4.36 in the 40-yard dash) and length (6’8″ wingspan).
While with South Carolina football, Rush also displayed solid ball skills. As a converted wide receiver, this is not surprising, but his ability to track the ball in the air is better than many defensive backs, and he uses his knack for finding the ball to knock the ball away (15 passes defended from 2021-2022) and snag interceptions (3 picks from 2021-2022).
The Colts and Dolphins will not play against each other in 2023, so Smith and Rush will have to wait at least one season before having a chance to compete against each other.