South Carolina football fans watched five former Gamecocks get picked in the 2023 NFL Draft as Cam Smith (2nd round to the Miami Dolphins), Zacch Pickens (3rd round to the Chicago Bears), Darius Rush (5th round to the Indianapolis Colts), Jovaughn Gwyn (7th round to the Atlanta Falcons), and Jalen Brooks (7th round to the Dallas Cowboys) fulfilled their dreams of becoming NFL players.
This year, the Gamecocks again have multiple players vying to become NFL Draft selections. Wide receiver Xavier Legette was the first to be picked as he went in the 1st round to the Carolina Panthers. Quarterback Spencer Rattler was taken by the New Orleans Saints in the 5th round as the second USC alum off the board, and the 6th round saw Marcellas Dial go to the New England Patriots.
Next up for the Gamecocks was offensive lineman Nick Gargiulo, who was taken with the second-to-last pick of the draft by the Denver Broncos.
The Broncos took Gargiulo with #256, just one shy of the Mr. Irrelevant spot at the end of the draft, likely thanks to his versatility. With starts in his career at center, guard, and tackle, Gargiulo is an excellent choice for depth on the offensive line. For what it's worth, the Broncos' official announcement of the draft pick listed him at guard.
With Denver, the former Yale Bulldog and South Carolina Gamecock will battle for a roster spot this summer, something USC fans have seen happen recently. Last year, tight end Nate Adkins was an undrafted free agent with the team but earned his way onto the roster and carved out a role in the offense.
Legette, Rattler, Dial, and Gargiulo will be joined on NFL training camp roster shortly by several of their South Carolina football teammates who will sign as undrafted free agents.