5 South Carolina football players considered the 200 best NFL recruiting candidates.
The NFL Draft is coming, and a handful of South Carolina football players will seek to take their talents to the next level after a productive university career. Those representing Gamecocks include Jaycee Horn, Israel Mukuamu, Shi Smith, Ernest Jones and Sadarius Hutcherson, all considered by the PFF to be the 200 best candidates.
You can expect to hear at least one of these Gamecocks’ names each day of the draft, with the action likely starting in the middle of the first round. Horn is widely seen as one of the top three cornerbacks in the college ranking, and could be off the board already in tenth place for the Cowboys. Most think it will fall somewhere between the numbers 12 and 25.
According to the PFF, Horn allowed only 65 receptions on 124 targets during his three seasons in Columbia. This includes a freshman year in which he did not give up on a touchdown on coverage and a junior season in which he led the SEC allowing opponent pass catchers to reach only 33% of their targets. It was released only 24 times in the past year, more than 239 photos on the cover.
Because of these impressive numbers, Horn is considered the 14th best player in the draft, regardless of position, as well as cornerback # 2. Scouts admire his tenacity, confidence and, of course, his measurable values.
Horn has the athleticism and mentality of an NFL-level corner man – he will not give up on anyone. He only allowed eight receptions from 24 targets for 116 yards in seven games this year.
Horn will seek to follow in the footsteps of his father (Joe) with a long professional career.