DRAFT FACTS GAMECOCK ALUMNI PROSPECTS

GAMECOCK FOOTBALL DRAFT FACTS

 South Carolina has produced 12 first-round draft picks all-time, with seven coming since 2000. 

 South Carolina running back George Rogers was selected with the No. 1 overall pick of the 1981 NFL Draft after winning the Heisman Trophy in 1980. Rogers earned NFL Rookie of the Year honors after leading the league in rushing in 1981. He was a two-time Pro Bowl selection in 1981 and 1982. 

 Jadeveon Clowney became the second Gamecock taken with the first pick in the draft when the Houston Texans selected him to open the 2014 NFL Draft. 

 19 Gamecocks have been selected in the last four drafts. 

 51 South Carolina players have been drafted since 2000, an average of over three draftees per year. 

 A Gamecock has been selected in each of the last 14 NFL Drafts. 

 28 South Carolina defensive backs have been selected in the NFL Draft, with 14 picked since 2002. 

 South Carolina has had 194 players selected in the NFL Draft.

GAMECOCK ALUMNI

April 24, 2016
 Forget LSU and Florida: South Carolina might be the real `DBU’

April 18, 2016
 Former Gamecock Captain Munnerlyn Excited for the Future

April 14, 2016
 Gamecock great Corey Jenkins reflects back on amazing journey

April 9, 2016
 Greats on alumni game: ‘It’s one of those things you’ll never forget’

April 5, 2016
 Football Alumni Thrilled to Come Back for Spring Game

March 30, 2016
 Gamecock great, Super Bowl champion Stewart back at Williams-Brice

January 15, 2016
 Former Gamecocks Fired Up to Play in NFL Playoffs-Divisional Round

November 30, 2015
 Former Gamecock Linebackers Still Part of South Carolina’s Defense

November 16, 2015
 Goodman Helping Gamecocks with New Sense of Purpose

July 24, 2015
 Gilmore looking forward to upcoming season with the Bills

July 16, 2015
 Sheldon Brown Remains Humble in Life After Football

July 10, 2015
 Ellington cousins use camp to give back to community

July 8, 2015
 Gilmore holds first-ever ‘Skills and Drills’ camp

June 22, 2015
 Once enemies, Alston and Thorne brought together as Gamecocks

June 17, 2015
 Smith proves hard work pays off

May 26, 2015
 Marcus Lattimore Prepares for the Next Step

May 19, 2015
 Finishing What They Started

May 19, 2015
 Langston Moore camp focused on eating right, life success

May 16, 2015
 Jeffery continues to give back to South Carolina

April 10, 2015
 Former Gamecocks happy to be a part of Spurrier’s family

April 10, 2015
 10-year Spurrier-era reunion a special evening for all involved

December 29, 2014
 The boy and the Ball Coach

September 22, 2014
 Carquest Bowl win forever changed Gamecock football

September 14, 2014
 Endowed Suggs Scholarship illustrates another way to give back to University

September 7, 2014
 Buckeye State transplant bleeds Garnet & Black

Round: 6th
Pick: 9th
Overall:184th

JERELL ADAMS
TE • 6-5 • 247

 Two-time member of the SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll
 2015 Dr. Harris Pastides Outstanding Student-Athlete Representative

2015: Carolina’s second-leading receiver with 28 receptions for 421 yards (15.0 yards per catch)… second on the team with three touchdown catches… had TD receptions against Kentucky, LSU and Tennessee… had his career-best game against The Citadel when he caught six passes for 105 yards… invited to play in the Senior Bowl following his senior season… a four-year letterwinner who finished his career with 66 catches for 977 yards and seven scores… played in 47 games, making 15 starts… a two-time member of the SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll… named the recipient of the prestigious Dr. Harris Pastides Outstanding Student-Athlete Representative of the University of South Carolina at the 2015 Garnet & Black Spring Game.

2014: Junior who saw action in all 13 games, making five starts… caught 21 passes for 279 yards with one score… had just three catches through the first six contests, but with Rory Anderson sidelined, Adams responded with 17 receptions for 220 yards over the final six regular season games, including five multiple-catch performances… collected a career-high 91 yards on three receptions against Furman, including a career-long 45-yard TD catch… had a career-best four receptions versus Tennessee and matched that number at Florida… a member of the SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll… named the Most Improved tight end for the second-straight year in the spring of 2014.

2013: Tight end who played in all 13 games, making one start… caught 13 passes for 187 yards, a 14.4-yard clip, with a pair of scores… suffered an ankle injury in preseason camp which limited him early in the season… made the start and hauled in a career-long 44-yard reception at UCF… caught two passes for 50 yards against Kentucky… caught three passes for 48 yards at Missouri… scored on a four-yard catch against Mississippi State… caught three passes including a touchdown in the Capital One Bowl win over Wisconsin… a member of the SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll… shared “Most Improved” tight end honors during the spring with Rory Anderson.

2012: True freshman tight end… earned SEC All-Freshman accolades by the league’s coaches… caught four passes for 90 yards and a touchdown in nine games… averaged 22.5 yards per reception… one of three true freshmen to play in the season opener at Vanderbilt… caught his first pass, a 33-yarder from Seth Strickland, in the win over UAB… logged a 12-yard reception at Florida… caught his first touchdown pass, a 29-yarder against Arkansas, for the game’s first points.

PREP SCHOOL: Attended Fork Union (Va.) Military Academy in the fall of 2011… coached by John Shuman… was a four-star prospect by Rivals.com, Scout.com and 247Sports.com, and a three-star talent by ESPN.com.

HIGH SCHOOL: Played quarterback, tight end, linebacker, defensive end and punter in football and was a power forward on the basketball team at Scott’s Branch High School in Summerton, S.C., graduating in 2011… led the Eagles to the 1A Division II state title as a senior… coached by Leonard Johnson… in two years at quarterback he threw for 689 yards and 12 touchdowns in the run-dominated offense… also caught 21 passes for 581 yards and eight scores in his career… logged 96 tackles with five interceptions and a sack as a junior on the defensive side of the ball… caught three touchdown passes as a tight end in the Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas… was the first player from his high school to play in the Shrine Bowl… also played in the Offense-Defense All-American Bowl in Myrtle Beach… the Eagles were the 2008 1A Division II state champions and the 2009 state runners-up… also played basketball, averaging 19 points and 13 rebounds as a junior… given a three-star ranking, considered the state’s 10th-best player and rated as the 17th-best tight end in the country according to Rivals.com… given three stars and considered the nation’s 30th-best high school tight end by Scout.com… a four-star recruit by 247Sports.com… named to PrepStar’s All-Atlantic Region class… decided to attend South Carolina over Clemson.

PERSONAL: Jerell D. Adams was born December 31, 1992… graduated in December 2015 with a degree in public health.

Round: 4th
Pick: 19th
Overall: 117th

PHAROH COOPER
WR • 5-11 • 203

 2015 First-team All-SEC Wide Receiver (AP and Coaches)
 2015 First-team All-SEC All-Purpose Back (Coaches)
 2015 Second-team All-SEC All-Purpose Back (AP)
 2014 First-team All-SEC Wide Receiver (AP and Coaches)
 2014 Second-team All-SEC All-Purpose Back (AP and Coaches)

2015: Earned first-team All-SEC honors by the league’s coaches as both a wide receiver and as an all-purpose back… was an AP first-team All-SEC wide receiver and a second-team all-purpose back… also named a first-team All-SEC wide receiver by ESPN.com… Gamecocks’ leading receiver with 66 receptions for 973 yards… ranked second in the league with 81.1 receiving yards and fifth with 5.5 catches per game… caught 35 percent of the team’s passes for 39 percent of the yards thrown… his 66 receptions were more than the rest of Carolina’s wide receivers combined total of 56… his 66 catches was the seventh-highest single-season total in school history, while his 973 receiving yards was the sixth-best mark… led the team with eight receiving touchdowns and with nine TDs overall… had five 100-yard receiving games in 2015 (Kentucky, Missouri, LSU, Vanderbilt, Citadel) and nine in his career… best game came against The Citadel when he caught 11 passes for 191 yards and a score… also had a 160-yard effort against Vanderbilt… averaged 94.9 all purpose yards per game… rushed 24 times for 111 yards and a score… completed 2-of-5 passes for 11 yards and a touchdown… returned 12 punts for 55 yards… finished his junior season with 138 career catches (ninth all-time) for 2,163 yards (eighth all-time) with 18 touchdown receptions (sixth all-time)… team captain… was a two-time first-team All-SEC selection… logged 513 rushing yards, 118 passing yards, 2,163 receiving yards, 359 kickoff return yards and 172 punt return yards in his 36-game career that included 25 starts… had six plays of 70-plus yards (two rushing and four receiving).

2014: Earned first-team All-SEC honors by the AP and SEC coaches as a wide receiver and was a second-team pick by both as an all-purpose back… was a first-team All-SEC all-purpose back by ESPN.com… third in the SEC in receptions (69), second in receiving yards (1,136) and receiving yards per game (87.4), fourth in receptions per game (5.3) and ninth in all-purpose yards/game (108.5)… led the team in all receiving categories and was fourth on the squad with 200 yards rushing… his single-season marks ranked sixth in school history for receptions, third for receiving yards and tied for sixth for touchdown receptions… tied Mike Davis for the team lead with 11 touchdowns scored… completed 5-of-8 passes for 78 yards and two TDs… also handled punt returns… hauled in 10 passes for 114 yards and broke a 70-yard run at Vanderbilt… set a school record with 233 yards receiving on a career-high 11 receptions and two scores, including an 85-yarder, vs. Tennessee… also rushed for 23 yards and a TD and threw a 30-yard TD pass in that contest… first Gamecock since Connor Shaw in the 2014 Capital One Bowl to pass, rush and catch a touchdown in a game… tossed a TD pass, rushed for 42 yards and caught three passes for 95 yards against South Alabama, including a 73-yard TD reception… caught nine passes for 170 yards, including a 78-yard touchdown reception in the Independence Bowl win over Miami… that catch tied the school record for longest pass reception in a bowl game… earned Offensive MVP honors in the bowl game… named to the SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll… was the Joe Morrison Offensive Player of the Spring.

2013: True freshman who saw his role increase as the season progressed… earned a spot on the Freshman All-SEC squad as both an all-purpose back and return specialist… also was a second-team Freshman All-American by 247Sports… third on the squad with 655 all-purpose yards, including 202 rushing, 54 receiving, 40 on punt returns and 359 on kick returns… also completed 2-of-3 passes for 29 yards and a touchdown… moved from cornerback to wide receiver a week into fall camp… played in 11 of 13 games, not seeing action against either Georgia or Vanderbilt… used in the Wildcat formation for the first time at UCF… caught his first career pass, a 12-yard reception, in the win over Kentucky… had four carries for 45 yards, including a 33-yard burst out of the Wildcat in the win at Arkansas… completed his only pass attempt for three yards… also took over the kickoff and punt return duties in that contest and returned a punt 36 yards… made his first career start at Tennessee… saw more Wildcat formation work against Mississippi State, carrying six times for 23 yards… rushed twice for 81 yards, including a 71-yard run, and caught two passes for 42 yards and a score against Coastal Carolina… rushed four times for 15 yards and connected on a 26-yard TD pass to Brandon Wilds against Clemson to seal the victory… also had a 55-yard kickoff return against the Tigers.

HIGH SCHOOL: Versatile performer who graduated in 2013… helped Havelock (N.C.) to back-to-back 3A state titles… Rams went 15-1 during his senior season and a perfect 16-0 during his junior campaign… coached by Jim Bob Bryant… played in the Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas game after his senior season… used at quarterback, running back, receiver and was the primary return man on punts and kickoffs in the Shrine game… finished with 253 total yards including a 45-yard TD run, earning offensive MVP honors for the North Carolina squad… also played in the Offense-Defense All-American Bowl… as a junior, rushed for 300 yards and caught 65 passes for 1,285 yards and 14 scores… registered 58 tackles with six interceptions… a four-star prospect and the state’s ninth-best player by Rivals… a three-star prospect and the nation’s 120th-best wide receiver by Scout… a three-star prospect, the 15th-best player in the state, and the 24th-best “athlete” in the country by 247Sports… a three-star prospect, the 62nd-best wide receiver and an All-Atlantic Region pick by PrepStar… also had offers from East Carolina and NC State.

PERSONAL: Pharoh Cooper was born March 7, 1995… is a sport and entertainment management major.

Round: 5th
Pick: 21st
Overall:158th

BRANDON SHELL
OT • 6-5 • 324

 2014 Fall SEC Academic Honor Roll
 2012 Fall SEC Academic Honor Roll

2015: Fifth-year offensive tackle who earned the start at left tackle in every game in his senior season… made 47 consecutive starts dating back to 2012… played mostly right tackle in his career before moving to left tackle for his final campaign to protect the quarterback’s blind side… was a preseason third-team All-SEC selection according to Phil Steele… sat out the spring after undergoing surgery on his right shoulder in the offseason to repair a torn labrum… played in 52 games overall, making 48 career starts… tied for sixth on the Carolina all-time list of games played, ranks third in career starts and second in consecutive starts behind only T.J. Johnson… a two-time member of the SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll… invited to play in the East-West Shrine Game following his senior season.

2014: Big right tackle who started every game… named to Phil Steele’s second-team midseason All-SEC unit… was a preseason second-team All-SEC selection by Steele and a third-team pick by the league’s coaches… recognized as the Outstanding Weight Room award winner for the offense at the 2014 spring game… named to the SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll.

2013: Sophomore who held down the right tackle position… started all 13 games… presented with the Everyday Effort award at the 2013 Garnet & Black Spring Game.

2012: Redshirt freshman offensive lineman… earned Freshman All-SEC honors and was named first-team Freshman All-American by FoxSportsNext.com… started 10 of the 13 contests… made his first career start as the left tackle at Vanderbilt in the season opener… did not start the next three games while transitioning to his more comfortable right side… returned to the starting lineup as the right tackle at Kentucky and held that spot for the rest of the season… named to the SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll… shared Most Improved Offensive Lineman accolades at the spring game with Will Sport.

2011: Redshirted as a true freshman offensive lineman… saw action for four plays in the season opener against East Carolina… was hampered for much of the season with a shoulder injury.

HIGH SCHOOL: Standout offensive lineman for head coach Chuck Reedy at Goose Creek (S.C.) High School, graduating in 2011… helped his team to the Class 4A Division II state semifinals as a senior… selected as the Charleston (S.C.) Post and Courier’s Player of the Year… earned a spot on the prestigious PARADE All-America team… played in the Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas and in the U.S. Army All-American Game… a four-star prospect who was listed as the state’s third-best player, the fourth-best offensive tackle in the country and the 66th-best player regardless of position by Rivals.com… regarded as a five-star prospect and the fifth-best offensive tackle by Scout.com… four-star prospect, ranked No. 77 in the country, the number three recruit in the state and the 12th-best offensive tackle in the nation, according to 247Sports.com… ranked 78th in the PrepStar 150… named first-team All-American by MaxPreps… also played basketball… had offers from all over the Southeast before selecting Carolina over Alabama and Clemson.

PERSONAL: Brandon Shell was born February 6, 1992… is a sociology major who graduated in December 2014… great uncle is NFL Hall of Famer Art Shell.