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The last time South Carolina had a 1st round pick: Revisiting Xavier Legette selection

The Gamecocks did not see a player picked in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft.
ByMorgan Moriarty|
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Carolina Panthers wide receiver Xavier Legette (17) leaps over Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Jourdan Lewis (2) during the second quarter of an NFL football matchup at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla., Sept. 7, 2025. The Jaguars defeated the Panthers 26-10.
Carolina Panthers wide receiver Xavier Legette (17) leaps over Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Jourdan Lewis (2) during the second quarter of an NFL football matchup at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla., Sept. 7, 2025. The Jaguars defeated the Panthers 26-10. | Corey Perrine / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The South Carolina Gamecocks did not have a player selected in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft. Although that was widely expected entering Thursday night's first round, Gamecock fans will once again have to wait until next year to potentially have a player selected in the first round. 

The Gamecocks have produced a number of successful first-round draft picks, such as receiver Sterling Sharpe, defensive end John Abraham, Stephon Gilmore and several others. But South Carolina fans haven't seen a player get selected in two draft cycles. 

ALSO READ: Most successful first-round draft pcks in South Carolina football history

When is the last time South Carolina had a first-round pick? 

The last time South Carolina produced a first-round draft pick was during the 2024 NFL Draft, when the Carolina Panthers selected receiver Xavier Leggette with the No. 32 overall pick. The move was a bit of a surprise, as Legette as considered to be a second-rounder, and the Panthers had to trade up to get him. Carolina sent the Buffalo Bills the 33rd pick, a fifth-round pick and the 200th pick to get him. 

His numbers so far in Charlotte have been underwhelming to say the least. His first two seasons at Carolina have been underwhelming, getting 49 receptions for 497 yards with four touchdowns as a rookie, and dropping to just 35 yards with 363 yards and three scores during Carolina's surprise NFC South Championship season last year. 

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Ahead of this week's NFL Draft, there have already been rumors that the Panthers may try to trade Legette.  

For Day 2 of the 2026 NFL Draft, there are a couple of Gamecock names to keep an eye on. Cornerback Brandon Cisse will likely be South Carolina's first player selected, but there are several big-name cornerbacks left on the board, such as Tennessee's Jermod McCoy, Clemson's Avieon Terrell and Tennessee's Colton Hood. 

Safety Jalen Kilgore could also hear his name called, as a projected third-rounder this year.  Defensive lineman Nick Barrett is projected as a fifth-rounder, so he may not get picked until Saturday.

Sure, it would have been nice for South Carolina to have a player selected in the first round this year, but it just wasn't in the cards.

Who do you all think the next first-round pick for the Gamecocks will be? 

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