South Carolina Football: Gamecock defensive back gets new NFL contract

A number of high-profile former Gamecocks have signed new professional contracts this offseason, and a few more South Carolina football alums are expected to sign with new squads via free agency.

One name that can be crossed off of the list of former USC players that are still without a team is defensive back Chris Lammons as the sixth-year pro signed a new contract with the Indianapolis Colts on Thursday.

Lammons joins fellow Gamecock Darius Rush is the secondary room with the Colts. Unlike Rush, Lammons does not appear poised to compete for a starting role, but with Isaiah Rodgers gone (he was cut after earning an indefinite/one-year minimum suspension for gambling on NFL games), Indy is in dire need of veterans who can play in the defensive backfield if called upon to do so.

In his five years in the league with the Miami Dolphins and Kansas City Chiefs, Lammons has accumulated one fumble recovery, one forced fumble, and one interception in limited game action as a reserve defensive back. He won a Super Bowl with the Chiefs but did not see action in the game.

Lammons had been signed to a deal earlier this offseason by the Cincinnati Bengals but was released after an altercation at a nightclub that also included fellow NFL player Alvin Kamara of the New Orleans Saints.

During his four years with the Gamecocks, Lammons was a primary starter for all four years of his career. He began his time in Columbia as a cornerback before moving to safety when Will Muschamp became the head coach of the South Carolina football program.

Despite starting most of his last two seasons at safety, Lammons still played a fair amount of corner when the Gamecocks needed it, including a game-sealing pass breakup in the end zone as time expired against Tennessee in 2017.