Five Gamecocks Invited to NFL Combine
Five University of South Carolina football players have been invited to the NFL Scouting Combine, it was announced today.
Representing the Gamecocks are quarterback Spencer Rattler, wide receiver Xavier Legette, tight end Trey Knox, offensive lineman Nick Gargiulo and cornerback Marcellas Dial.
A total of 321 prospects have been invited to attend this year’s event, which will take place in Indianapolis from February 26 through March 4.
South Carolina’s annual Pro Timing Day is set for Tuesday, March 12.
SPENCER RATTLER
Quarterback who spent two seasons with the Gamecocks after beginning his collegiate career at Oklahoma… played in 48 career contests… posted a 28-14 record in 42 career starts… completed 900-of-1,313 career passes (68.5 pct.) for 10,807 yards with 77 touchdowns and 32 interceptions… threw at least one touchdown pass in 32 of his 42 career starts… finished his Gamecock career fifth all-time in passing yards with 6,212 yards… also ranked first in Carolina history in career completion percentage (.675), fifth in career completions (523) and ninth in career passing touchdowns (37) despite playing just two seasons in the Garnet & Black… was a two-time team captain at Carolina.
2023 (Redshirt Senior)
Selected as a Rex Enright Team Captain and a co-winner of the Steve Wadiak Team MVP Award… started all 12 games… completed 275-of-389 passes for 3,186 with 19 touchdowns and eight interceptions… ranked fifth in the SEC and 27th in the NCAA in total passing yards with the third-highest single-season total in school history… averaged 265.5 yards passing per game, third in the SEC and 22nd in the nation… set the school’s single-season record for completions (275) and completion percentage (68.9)… logged five 300-yard passing games, one shy of the school record… threw for over 300 yards against North Carolina (353), Furman (345), Florida (313), Jacksonville State (399) and Vanderbilt (351)… the 399-yard performance against Jacksonville State ranks eighth in school history… threw for a pair of 70+ yard TDs against Mississippi State, including a career long 76-yarder… tossed a season-high four touchdowns against Florida… rushed 97 times for 104 yards and four touchdowns… longest rush was a 28-yarder against Mississippi State… named the Joe Morrison Offensive Player of the Spring… invited to the Reese’s Senior Bowl.
XAVIER LEGETTE
Special talent who contributed at wide receiver and on special teams… appeared in 53 games over a five-year career with 32 starts… logged 113 career receptions for 1,678 yards with 12 receiving touchdowns and one kickoff return for a score… his 113 career receptions rank 15th on the school’s all-time list… averaged 26.4 yards on 29 career kickoff returns.
2023 (Super Senior)
Highly-decorated player following a breakout “Super” senior season in which he was one of the nation’s top receivers… was a third-team All-American according to Phil Steele and College Football Network and named to the Senior Bowl All-American Team… earned first-team All-SEC accolades from PFF, Phil Steele and College Football Network… was a second-team All-SEC selection by the Associated Press and the league’s 14 coaches as a wide receiver… also earned AP second-team All-SEC honors as an all-purpose back… selected as a Rex Enright Team Captain, the Most Outstanding Senior, the Steve Spurrier Award winner as the MVP of the offense and shared the Steve Wadiak Team MVP with Spencer Rattler… named a finalist for the Blanchard-Rogers Trophy… was one of 10 semifinalists for the Biletnikoff Award and was a second-team AP Midseason All-American… started all 12 games… led the team with 71 receptions for 1,255 yards, and seven receiving touchdowns… tied Bryan Edwards (71) for the fifth-most receptions in a single season… his 71 receptions was more than the next two players on the squad combined (65)… his 1,255 receiving yards was the second-highest single-season mark in school history… became the fifth player in school history to eclipse the 1,000 yards receiving mark in a single season… averaged 104.6 receiving yards per game (2nd in the SEC and 8th in the country), 17.7 yards per reception (5th in the SEC) and 5.9 receptions per game (4th in the SEC)… logged six 100-yard receiving games… returned 10 kickoffs for a 21.3-yard average… had at least five receptions in 10 of 12 games… was injured in the two games he did not record at least five catches… turned in his best game against Jacksonville State with a career high 217 receiving yards, while tying career highs with nine receptions and with two touchdowns… his 217 receiving yards was the second most in program history, just 16 yards shy of tying Pharoh Cooper (2014) for the program record… had a five-catch, 189-yard, two-touchdown performance against Mississippi State and a nine-catch, 178-yard effort against North Carolina… also had 100-yard outings against Furman (118), Florida (110) and Vanderbilt (120)… invited to the Reese’s Senior Bowl following the season.
TREY KNOX
Tight end who joined the squad in the spring of 2023 as a graduate transfer after spending four years at Arkansas… began his career as a wide receiver… played in 55 career games with 39 starts… caught 118 career passes for 1,204 yards and 11 TDs, including 81 for 892 yards and nine TDs for the Razorbacks.
2023 (Grad)
Earned second-team All-SEC honors from the league’s 14 coaches and third team honors from Phil Steele… started all 10 games in which he appeared… missed two contests due to injury… finished second on the team with 37 receptions for 312 yards and a pair of touchdowns… 33 of his 37 catches came in SEC action… tied a career high with eight receptions for 50 yards and a touchdown against Florida… added seven catches for 51 yards against Tennessee… named to the CSC Academic All-District team.
NICK GARGIULO
Graduate transfer from Yale University in New Haven, Conn., who played one season with the Gamecocks… versatile performer who played both guard and center… tremendous leader, as he was selected as a team captain at both Yale in 2022 and South Carolina in 2023… played in 37 collegiate games, 12 with the Gamecocks and 25 with the Bulldogs.
2023 (Grad)
Joined the team in January as a grad transfer and went through spring drills… shared the Gamecock Toughness Award for the offense in the spring with Josh Simon… earned a starting spot on the offensive line and started all 12 games in his only season in Columbia… was the only offensive lineman to start in every game… started at left guard for the first five contests and at center for the final seven games… recognized as a Rex Enright Team Captain and Nutrition Award winner at the postseason Senior Banquet… named Third-Team All-SEC by College Football Network.
MARCELLAS DIAL
Veteran defensive back who is the latest in a long line of standout Gamecock cornerbacks… former junior college defensive back who spent three years in Columbia… appeared in 38 games with 29 career starts for the Gamecocks, accounting for 114 tackles, three interceptions and 28 pass breakups.
2023 (Redshirt Senior)
Started all 12 games at cornerback… credited with 36 tackles including 2.0 tackles for loss and a sack… logged a team-high 10 pass breakups, tying for 10th in the SEC with 0.83 passes defended per game… posted a season high eight tackles against Georgia, one shy of his career high… broke up two passes in four different contests… had an eight-yard sack against Texas A&M, the first of his career, and a tackle for loss versus Clemson… selected by the coaches for the Overcoming Adversity Award at the postseason Senior Banquet.
