Four former South Carolina players to watch in the 2022 NFL draft

A handful of South Carolina gamers will be taught their skilled futures over the subsequent three days.

The 2022 NFL draft begins with Thursday evening’s first spherical, Friday is Rounds 2 and three and it’ll conclude on Saturday with Rounds 4-7.

Though no Gamecocks are anticipated to be taken on the primary day of alternatives, there are a handful of intriguing prospects popping out of Columbia this yr.

Right here’s a have a look at 4 South Carolina merchandise to look at this week:

DE Kingsley “JJ” Enagbare

Projections: Rd. 3, No. 67 to New York Giants (CBS), Rd. 3, No. 96 total to Denver Broncos (The Athletic), Rd. 3 No. 98 to New Orleans Saints (ESPN)

Kingsley “JJ” Enagbare’s projections are far and wide. He was considered a doable first-round choose heading into the season, however his inventory has dropped pretty steadily over the past six-plus months.

Enagbare was disruptive throughout his last yr at South Carolina, however the numbers didn’t fairly stay as much as what was anticipated out of him by NFL squads. He notched career-highs in tackles (42) and solo tackles (27) this season, however his 2.5 sacks and 5 tackles for a loss had been his lowest outputs since his freshman season.

The previous four-star recruit didn’t precisely assist his trigger by way of testing season, both, recording below-average numbers within the 40-yard sprint and three-cone drill.

Enagbare isn’t going to wow with athleticism, however continues to be technically sounds. Mix that with a loaded class at defensive finish/edge rusher and he’s more likely to be a center of Day 2 choose.

RBs Kevin Harris and ZaQuandre White

Projections: White — Rd. 7, No. 222 to Jacksonville Jaguars (The Athletic), Undrafted (CBS, ESPN); Harris — Rd. 6, No. 220 to San Francisco 49ers (ESPN), Undrafted (CBS, The Athletic)

I’ll lump Kevin Harris and ZaQuandre White collectively since they’re more likely to fall across the identical spot ought to both participant be drafted.

White is a little bit of a mysterious prospect given his meandering path that wound from four-star recruit to Florida State to Iowa Western Neighborhood School and, lastly, to South Carolina.

The Florida native was a spark for a largely listless USC offense in 2021 and completed the common season because the group’s main rusher. White additionally solely recorded 241 carries over his whole faculty profession between Iowa Western and USC (Harris, against this, has 185 touches in 2020 alone).

That low-usage fee coupled together with his shiftiness and cross catching skill out of the backfield ought to make him a participant that hears his identify on the ultimate day of the draft.

Comparatively, Harris is a tougher participant to peg given his current harm historical past. He led the Southeastern Convention in dashing in the course of the 2020 common season and regarded dominant in spurts in 2021. Offseason again surgical procedure, although, restricted his manufacturing this fall and could possibly be a priority for groups investing a choose in him.

Harris has mentioned he’s again to full well being all through the draft course of and he examined about in addition to any working again on the NFL Mix in February. Don’t be shocked if a group takes a late-round flier on him.

TE Nick Muse

Projections: Undrafted (CBS, ESPN, The Athletic)

Nick Muse may not be the most important identify of the South Carolina contingent on this yr’s draft, however he’s bought the sort of upside that ought to enable him to stay on a roster.

Muse did some good issues as a blocker in 2021, however his receiving numbers had been virtually lower in half regardless of enjoying three extra video games than the yr prior — although a few of that was as a consequence of a litany of points at quarterback.

The one-time William & Mary switch has a character that ought to mesh properly in NFL locker rooms and his 4.7-second 40-yard sprint at South Carolina’s Professional Day gave a glimpse on the sort of athlete he’s.

Muse’s brother, Tanner, who starred at linebacker for Clemson, was additionally beforehand chosen within the third spherical of the 2020 NFL Draft by the Las Vegas Raiders. It could’t harm to have some skilled lineage within the household.

Muse could not hear his identify known as, but it surely’d be stunning if he’s not signed shortly after the seventh spherical wraps up on Saturday afternoon.

Different names to look at:

• S Jaylan Foster
• DL Jabari Ellis
• DE Aaron Sterling

The right way to watch the NFL Draft

When: Thursday, April 28 (Spherical 1) 8 p.m.; Friday, April 29 (Rounds 2-3), 7 p.m.; Saturday, April 30 (Rounds 4-7), midday.

The place: Las Vegas

TV: NFL Community, ABC, ESPN

Stream: fuboTV