Former Gamecock and current New England Patriots cornerback Marcellas Dial reportedly tore the ACL in his left knee during a full-team practice on Monday. Dial was carted off the field and expected to be placed on season-ending injured reserve, as confirmed by ESPN's Mike Reiss and multiple local outlets today.
Rookie Season Recap and Early Promise
Dial, a 2024 sixth-round draft pick (No. 180 overall) out of South Carolina, secured a spot on the roster following a strong rookie training camp. Last season, he appeared in all 17 regular season games, made one start in Week 18, and recorded five defensive tackles and seven stops on special teams, totaling 12 tackles with one forced fumble.
Over the summer, Dial was competing for the slot cornerback role alongside Marcus Jones and was expected to reprise a key special teams role in 2025.
South Carolina Days: From JUCO to SEC Standout
Dial's path to the NFL was unconventional. After playing at Woodruff High School in South Carolina, he walked on at Georgia Military College, where he recorded 10 tackles and an interception before the 2020 season was canceled due to the pandemic. He was a three-star junior college recruit before transferring to the Gamecocks program in 2021.
At South Carolina, Dial had a breakout campaign. In 2021, he started seven of 13 games, tallying 33 tackles, six pass breakups, one forced fumble, and one forced fumble recovery. The following season, Dial led the Gamecocks with 12 pass breakups, adding three interceptions while racking up 45 tackles. He ranked among the top in the SEC for passes defended. Dial's standout performance included an interception against Clemson, earning him Defensive Player of the Week. In 2023, Dial started all 12 games for South Carolina, logging 36 tackles and a team-high 10 pass breakups.
South Carolina head coach Shane Beamer praised Dial for his steady development, toughness, and versatility, noting his ability to contribute to both the inside and outside. His fluid athleticism made him a good fit for the Patriots' secondary.