With the NFL draft approaching - and with 3 Gamecocks projected to go in the first 2 rounds - I thought it might be fun to speculate: How many guys on our current roster will be future first or second round draft picks? I think we could have as many as eight 1st/2nd round guys on the current roster. While any number of players can step it up like Ingram and raise their status to that level, I think the following are the likeliest to go high, based on a general consensus of on-line draft gurus and my own less-than-expert impressions.
Jadeveon Clowney: 1st round, 1st pick! (He's a lock top 5 pick, and he'll go first if DE is a need for the team selecting first the year he comes out. His draft day coverage will do wonders for our recruiting.)
Marcus Lattimore: 1st round (Fully healthy, he should be a 1st round lock. He is the consensus #1 RB in his class.)
Devin Taylor: 1st or 2nd round (If Devin steps it up this year, he could Ingram his way into the first round.)
DJ Swearinger: possible second rounder
Devonte Holloman: possible second rounder
(DJ and Devonte will need to tear it up at their combines, but it's within reach for them.)
Youngsters with 1st/2nd round potential: Kelcy Quarles, Brandon Shell, Tanner McEvoy (I know this is a stretch, it's EARLY and he's raw, but he's 6-6, super athletic, with a strong arm and 4 more years to gradually develop under Spurrier/Mangus. Physically, he's very similar to Ryan Tannehill who is about to be a top 10 pick).
In addition to the above players, there are at least a dozen more with the potential to be drafted somewhere. We're loaded, and a LOT of our guys will be making us proud on Sundays down the road. (And aside from Jadeveon - who might have been drafted in the 1st round out of high school if the NFL allowed such things, and who will logically and sensibly go after his junior season - I think most will give us 4 great years as Gamecocks first.)
Just for fun, future draft projections, anyone?
Jadeveon Clowney: 1st round, 1st pick! (He's a lock top 5 pick, and he'll go first if DE is a need for the team selecting first the year he comes out. His draft day coverage will do wonders for our recruiting.)
Marcus Lattimore: 1st round (Fully healthy, he should be a 1st round lock. He is the consensus #1 RB in his class.)
Devin Taylor: 1st or 2nd round (If Devin steps it up this year, he could Ingram his way into the first round.)
DJ Swearinger: possible second rounder
Devonte Holloman: possible second rounder
(DJ and Devonte will need to tear it up at their combines, but it's within reach for them.)
Youngsters with 1st/2nd round potential: Kelcy Quarles, Brandon Shell, Tanner McEvoy (I know this is a stretch, it's EARLY and he's raw, but he's 6-6, super athletic, with a strong arm and 4 more years to gradually develop under Spurrier/Mangus. Physically, he's very similar to Ryan Tannehill who is about to be a top 10 pick).
In addition to the above players, there are at least a dozen more with the potential to be drafted somewhere. We're loaded, and a LOT of our guys will be making us proud on Sundays down the road. (And aside from Jadeveon - who might have been drafted in the 1st round out of high school if the NFL allowed such things, and who will logically and sensibly go after his junior season - I think most will give us 4 great years as Gamecocks first.)
Just for fun, future draft projections, anyone?