South Carolina Football: Despite tough year, Gamecocks are projected to have two NFL 1st rounders

Not a lot has gone right for the South Carolina football program over the past two months. A 2-5 record for the Gamecocks has come courtesy of an awful defense and poor offensive line play.

There have been a few bright spots for USC, however. Quarterback Spencer Rattler and wide receiver Xavier Legette have turned into one of the top connections in the sport

CBSSports’ Ryan Wilson has Legette pegged as the 27th-best prospect in the 2024 NFL Draft (he has Rattler 41st on his “Big Board”). Wilson’s board was updated early last week.

In a mock draft that was updated on October 18th, Wilson has Rattler going 21st to the New Orleans Saints, while his colleague Chris Trapasso has Legette being picked with the 28th pick by the Detroit Lions.

PFF’s Trevor Sikkema has Legette going with the 32nd and final pick of the 1st round to the Philadephia Eagles. He also has Legette as the 37th player on his Big Board. He did not have Rattler projected in his first round mock draft but had him 94th on the Big Board.

Injured Gamecock receiver Juice Wells was listed as the 58th-best prospect on his Big Board. Defensive tackle TJ Sanders clocks in at the 145 spot on the Big Board. Tight end Trey Knox is currently 161st on the Big Board, as well. Wells and Sanders have more collegiate eligibility remaining if they choose to take it.

Former Gamecocks MarShawn Lloyd, Jaheim Bell, and Jordan Burch also made Sikkema’s Big Board.

Other South Carolina football players (Mario Anderson, Tonka Hemingway, Marcellas Dial, Josh Simon, and others) have popped up here and there on various NFL draft projections.

If Rattler and Legette both are taken in the 1st round of the 2024 NFL Draft, they would be the first South Carolina football stars to be taken in the 1st round since Jaycee Horn in the 2021 NFL Draft, and they would be the first pair of Gamecocks taken in the 1st since 2012 when Stephon Gilmore and Melvin Ingram were taken. 1981 (George Rogers and Willie Scott) is the only other time in program history that two USC alums have gone in the 1st round.