Why next year’s NFL Draft could be historic for South Carolina Gamecocks
If you want to understand how silly NFL Draft forecasts are, let’s go back one year.
At this time in 2025, a bevy of 2026 mock drafts were released with a consensus that a handful of top-end quarterbacks would be available. In his “way-too-early” 2026 mock draft, ESPN’s Jordan Reid slotted four QBs in the top eight picks.
And, well, no one among those four QBs — Clemson’s Cade Klubnik (projected No. 1 overall), South Carolina’s LaNorris Sellers (No. 4), LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier (No. 7) or Penn State’s Drew Allar (No. 8) — went in the first three rounds.
Heck, Sellers didn’t even opt in for the draft, choosing to go back to school after a sub-par 2025 season.
So, yes, there is a chance that any present-day predictions regarding the 2027 NFL Draft could look foolish in 12 months. Knowing that, it’s still hard not to think that next year’s NFL Draft could be historic for South Carolina.
The Gamecocks enter this coming season with a quartet of physical freaks who will likely be in talks as first-round picks.
Edge Dylan Stewart is projected to go in the Top 10 in almost every early mock draft, and has been dominant over the past two years to back that up. Unless his back injury worsens and keeps him off the field, it’s hard to imagine he’ll fall out of the first round.
Both Sellers and receiver Nyck Harbor are featured in various mock drafts as first-rounders, though both will need improved 2026 campaigns to fulfill that.
And then there’s the wild card — offensive tackle Jacarrius Peak. Though not a first-rounder in any mock drafts, he is 6-foot-4, 310 pounds, runs nearly 20 mph and fits the mold of what NFL teams are looking for in a tackle. So long as his injury doesn’t keep him out too long, he should be selected early.
So right there are four guys, which brings us to the historical comps.
The most Gamecocks ever selected in an NFL Draft is, technically, nine — but that was back in 1954, when the draft had a million rounds and was far less of a spectacle.
Since the NFL Draft pivoted to its current seven-round format in 1994, the record for South Carolina players drafted in a single year is seven, set in 2009 and then matched in 2013.
It seems quite reasonable to think the Gamecocks could surpass that in 2027.
Let’s assume Stewart, Sellers, Harbor and Peak are all taken. That’s four.
Two others seem like locks to hear their name called: 6-3, 311-pound DT Gabriel Brownlow-Dindy and DB Vicari Swain, a phenomenal cover corner who also brings experience as a punt returner.
There is another handful of guys who will be out of eligibility following the 2026 season and could be Day 2 or Day 3 draft picks. Among them: CB Judge Collier, LB Shawn Murphy, DT Tomiwa Durojaiye (Illinois transfer), OL Carter Miller (UCF transfer), OL Emmanuel Koju Poku (East Carolina transfer) and DT Kelby Collins (Alabama transfer).
If even four of those guys are drafted, South Carolina would set the record. And that’s not even considering the possibility that a younger player like LB Justin Okoronkwo or RB Matt Fuller has a breakout season that allows them to climb up draft boards.
What this really shows is that South Carolina has loads of experience and talent heading into the 2026 season. But, as Clemson proved last week, there is always the possibility of having more draft picks than wins, which is a consolation prize sweet as a lemon.
This story was originally published April 28, 2026 at 7:00 AM with the headline "Why next year’s NFL Draft could be historic for South Carolina Gamecocks."
