South Carolina Football: Gamecocks in the NFL, preseason update

The NFL preseason’s first week has come and gone. The preseason is the time of year in which more players have an opportunity to see the field than any other time as established players are knocking off the rust, and unproven commodities are attempting to carve out a role on an NFL roster. The South Carolina football program has alums that fit into both of those categories.

A number of Gamecocks have seen game action in the early goings of this preseason.

Former South Carolina football star Darius Rush scored his first NFL touchdown on Saturday. The 5th-round selection of the Indianapolis Colts in the 2023 NFL Draft picked off a pass from Kyle Allen of the Buffalo Bills and raced 55 yards to the end zone.

Former South Carolina football pass rusher Kingsley “JJ” Enagbare had a good second-season debut with the Green Bay Packers. He hurried the quarterback three different times and brought home one of the highest grades of all the defenders in the Packers’ front seven.

Another former Gamecock now with the Packers, Keisean Nixon, picked up a sack against the Bengals when he brought down quarterback Jake Browning behind the line of scrimmage.

Speaking of sacks, former South Carolina football defensive tackle Zacch Pickens sacked fellow rookie Will Levis of the Titans, something he didn’t do in college when Levis played for Kentucky because the quarterback missed the Gamecocks’ victory over the Wildcats (Pickens did sack Levis’ replacement Kaiya Sheron, however).

Gamecock tight end standout Hayden Hurst is back in the Carolinas with the Panthers, and the pass catcher led the Panthers in total routes run and caught a couple of passes from rookie quarterback (and 1st-overall pick) Bryce Young.

His teammate at both South Carolina and with the Panthers, Josh Vann, had a nice day returning punts. Fellow Panthers receiver Shi Smith had a nice catch but banged up his shoulder before returning to the field later in the game. A fourth Gamecock pass catcher with the Panthers, receiver Damiere Byrd, did not play.

Cornerback Jaycee Horn played for the Panthers in the first preseason game, a good sign after missing much of last season with injury.

Miami Dolphins rookie Cam Smith injured his shoulder in his first preseason game. It is unclear how long he will be sidelined.

Despite a strong training camp, former Gamecock receiver Jalen Brooks had just one catch for the Dallas Cowboys in their preseason opener.

South Carolina football alum Israel Mukuamu had a good game for the Cowboys, and the safety knocked away a 2-point conversion attempt for the Jaguars.

Tight end Nate Adkins had his first game with the Denver Broncos after graduating from the University of South Carolina. Adkins was very impressive as a blocker for new head coach Sean Payton.

Adkins also started on the field goal unit, blocking for fellow Gamecock Elliott Fry, who made a 55-yard field goal for Denver.

Jovaughn Gwyn, playing center for the Atlanta Falcons, saw significant game action.

Like many more established NFL players, former South Carolina football greats like Deebo Samuel, Stephon Gilmore, and Ernest Jones did not play in the preseason opener.

Two more weeks of preseason games remain before the NFL regular season begins.