Darius Rush selected in 2023 NFL Draft
South Carolina cornerback Darius Rush was selected by the Indianapolis Colts with the No. 138 overall pick (fifth round) of the 2023 NFL Draft on Saturday afternoon.
Rush’s story is one of fairytale as the three-star recruit from the small town of Kingstree, S.C. first joined the Gamecock program as a wide receiver before developing into one of the country’s best cornerbacks under the tutelage of Torrian Gray.
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At the completion of his five-year South Carolina career, Rush had played in 43 career games, including 21 starts, and was credited with 74 tackles including 4.0 tackles for loss. He also intercepted three passes and broke up 15 more.
The multi-time SEC Academic Honor Roll recipient took over as one of the Gamecocks’ starting corners as a junior in 2022 and never looked back.
Also an exceptional special teams contributor as well, the C.E. Murray graduate played in all 13 games in 2021, starting 12 at cornerback, while collecting 25 tackles and a pick.
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The 6-foot-2, 198-pounder rocketed up draft boards privately following his junior season and continued his climb publicly with a big final season in Columbia.
As a senior in 2022, Rush played in 10 games making nine starts. He was credited with a career-high 38 tackles to go along with 2.0 tackles for loss, two interceptions, seven pass breakups and a fumble recovery.
Rush’s early interception against Texas A&M help set the stage for a big Carolina victory and career night as he racked up eight tackles with a forced fumble.
Rush continues his momentum into the offseason with one of the top performances at his position during the week of practice at the Reese’s Senior Bowl.
His 4.36-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine was the final checkbox for NFL teams to solidify him as a mid-round pick.
Rush is the third former South Carolina player to be selected in this year’s draft.
The Miami Dolphins drafted cornerback Cam Smith in the second round with the No. 51 overall pick. Later on in Day 2, the Chicago Bears selected former South Carolina defensive tackle with the No. 64 overall pick, which was the first pick in the third round.
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Darius Rush Bio from South Carolina Athletics
2021 SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll
2019 SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll
2018-19 SEC First-Year Academic Honor Roll
Five-year player who originally came to Carolina as a wide receiver, but successfully made the transition to cornerback… played in 43 career games, including 21 starts… credited with 74 tackles including 4.0 tackles for loss… intercepted three passes and broke up 15 more.
2022 (Redshirt Senior)
Played in 10 games making nine starts… credited with a career-high 38 tackles including 28 solo stops… had a pair of tackles for loss, two pass interceptions, seven pass breakups with a quarterback hurry and a fumble recovery… turned in a career performance against Texas A&M with eight tackles, one interception and one forced fumble – returning the interception 59 yards… had his second pick of the season against Vanderbilt… had a pair of pass breakups against Arkansas and Florida… accepted an invitation to participate in the Reese’s Senior Bowl and to the NFL Combine following the season.
2021 (Redshirt Junior)
Played in all 13 games, starting 12 at the cornerback position… credited with 25 tackles, with 23 were solo stops… logged a pair of tackles for loss including his first career sack against Florida… posted eight pass breakups (second on the squad) and one interception at East Carolina… matched his career high with four tackles at Missouri… notched a pair of pass breakups against both Auburn and Clemson… missed the spring after undergoing shoulder surgery… named to the SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll.
2020 (Redshirt Sophomore)
Defensive back who saw action in eight contests… used primarily on special teams… missed the Missouri and Georgia games late in the season due to injury… credited with eight tackles, including seven unassisted stops… best game came at Vanderbilt when he was credited with a career-high four tackles… also had two stops each against Texas A&M and Kentucky.
2019 (Redshirt Freshman)
Began fall camp with the wide receivers but transitioned to the secondary midway through fall camp… played in all 12 games, primarily on special teams… credited with three tackles… had two stops versus Charleston Southern and one against Vanderbilt… named to the SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll.
2018 (Freshman)
Redshirted in his true freshman campaign… went through spring drills as an early enrollee… missed extended time in the fall due to injury… named to the First-Year SEC Academic Honor Roll.
