South Carolina Football: Gamecocks to retire Alshon Jeffery’s jersey

Arguably the greatest receiver in the history of South Carolina football will have his jersey retired this fall. Alshon Jeffery, who played three years for the Gamecocks from 2009-2011 will receive the honor during halftime of the September 23rd home game against Mississippi State, and when he does, the unquestionable top-2 in program history will be immortalized at Williams-Brice Stadium.

Sterling Sharpe had his #2 retired in 1987 while he was still an active player. Since then, South Carolina football has adopted a policy of retiring jerseys, rather than numbers in an effort to not run out of uniforms for players.

In 2022, the Gamecocks retired their first jersey when Jadeveon Clowney was honored with his name and #7 jersey hoisted to the front of the Williams-Brice pressbox. Rumors have circulated that Carolina had plans to retire Connor Shaw’s #14, but former quarterback Phil Petty’s untimely death put a hold on those plans as Petty also wore #14.

Now, alongside the retired numbers of Sharpe (2), Steve Wadiak (37), George Rogers (38), and Mike Johnson (56) and the retired jersey of Clowney (7), Alshon Jeffery will see his #1 raised.

Before ever deciding to come to the University of South Carolina, Alshon Jeffery was committed to the “other USC” but changed his mind, joining Stephon Gilmore and Devonte Holloman as big-time in-state prospects who stayed home and changed the trajectory of South Carolina football forever.

The Gamecocks would stack two more elite recruiting classes filled with Palmetto State talent inspired by Jeffery, Gilmore, and Holloman. Those classes would lead Carolina to an SEC East championship in 2010, then back-to-back-to-back 11-win seasons from 2011-2013.

During his Gamecock career, Jeffery was a freshman All-American (2009), an All-American (2010), All-SEC (2010, 2011), an SEC Football Legend (2022), and the Gamecocks’ all-time leader in receiving touchdowns. He is also second in South Carolina football history in receiving yards and third in program history in receptions.

Jeffery’s 2010 season is one of the best in SEC history. For the SEC East champion Gamecocks, #1 caught 88 passes for 1517 yards and 9 touchdowns. He also has the most 100-yard receiving performances in school history with 12, despite only having played for three seasons in Columbia.

After being taken in the 2nd round of the 2012 NFL Draft, Jeffery had a very good professional career. He was an NFL Pro Bowler and a Super Bowl champion.

Now, he will have his jersey retired by the South Carolina football program.