South Carolina Football: Gamecock to play in postseason all-star game

South Carolina football fans learned yesterday that star quarterback Spencer Rattler would be heading to the NFL Draft this April, officially bringing his collegiate career to a close. Rattler’s decision means that the news that broke last week of him accepting a Reese’s Senior Bowl invitation will come to fruition.

However, Rattler won’t be the only South Carolina football player who will play in a postseason all-star game this offseason in hopes of helping his NFL Draft stock.

On Wednesday, the East-West Shrine Bowl announced that Gamecock cornerback Marcellas Dial has accepted an invitation to play in the 2024 game.

The East-West Shrine Bowl will take place on February 1st at the Ford Center in Frisco, Texas, the home of the Dallas Cowboys’ practice facility.

During Marcellas Dial’s collegiate career, he spent two seasons at Georgia Military College (though the 2020 season was canceled) before joining the Gamecocks for three seasons. Dial played a lot of reserve reps in 2021 but played a lot in 2022, sometimes starting and sometimes as the first corner off the bench. He was the Gamecocks’ top cover corner in 2023.

Dial has shown a lot of man coverage ability during his college career. His consistency hasn’t always been there, but at the NFL level, his length and “toolsiness” could allow for him to develop into a useful professional player.

In his three years in Columbia, Dial tallied three interceptions, but his biggest play as a member of the South Carolina football program came in the final regular season game of 2022. In the Gamecocks’ road upset of the rival Clemson Tigers, Dial picked up Clemson quarterback DJ Uiagalelei in the 4th quarter, allowing the Gamecocks to burn over 2 minutes as they sought to run out the clock for the victory.

Technically, Dial could return to Columbia in 2024, but he has declared for the NFL Draft.

Dial has an outside chance of being drafted late in April’s NFL Draft, but playing in the East-West Shrine Bowl could help out his stock if he has a good week of practice and a strong showing in the game.

The 2024 NFL Draft will take place April 25th-27th.