South Carolina Football: Gamecock great signed to new NFL contract

South Carolina football alum Darius Rush has had a whirlwind of a professional football ride since finishing his Gamecock career with huge back-to-back victories over top-10 opponents Tennessee and Clemson last November.

Starting with the Reese’s Senior Bowl and continuing through the NFL Scouting Combine and South Carolina Football’s Pro Day, Rush moved himself from a likely undrafted player to solid standing in NFL Draft circles due to his absurd athletic profile.

Rush was projected to be taken anywhere from the 2nd round to the 4th round in the 2023 NFL Draft, but for some inexplicable reason, he kept falling on draft day. Eventually, the Indianapolis Colts selected Rush in the 5th round.

Due to some defensive backfield chaos in Indianapolis (injuries, a betting scandal right not involving Rush, and other factors), things didn’t work out for the South Carolina football product in Indy. Immediately upon receiving his release from the franchise, the Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs scooped him up and placed him on their practice squad.

Had anything happened to one of KC’s top group of corners, Rush would have been called up and would have been a good fit in Steve Spagnuolo’s defense.

However, before he could be called up to the active roster, another team swooped in and signed Rush to a full-time NFL contract.

The Pittsburgh Steelers saw something they liked in Rush and signed him to replace corner Desmond King, who was cut to make room for the Gamecock great.

Now on the active roster with the Steelers, Rush will have more of an opportunity to display the ability that made him one of the greatest cornerbacks to ever wear garnet and black.

At 6’2″ with 4.36 speed and the longest arms of any defensive back at this year’s Combine, Rush is uniquely gifted as a man coverage expert, something Pittsburgh favors over zone coverage. It wouldn’t be much of a surprise to see the South Carolina native earn a role with the Steelers this season.