South Carolina football alum signs with new NFL team

On Monday, the Cleveland Browns announced they had signed a South Carolina football alum. Former Gamecock defensive back Darius Rush will join an organization that needs help at cornerback. Rush and fellow corner Christian Holmes were signed together.

So far in his professional career, Rush has spent time with the Indianapolis Colts, Kansas City Chiefs (two stints), and Pittsburgh Steelers. The Colts selected the athletic receiver-turned-corner in the fifth round of the 2023 NFL Draft after he burst onto the college football scene as a redshirt junior and redshirt senior.

Rush saw action in five games for the Steelers in 2023 and 2024. He tallied three tackles and a pass deflection during his time in Pittsburgh. After rejoining the Chiefs last fall and signing again this spring, Kansas City waived Rush with an injury settlement designation. However, it took just a handful of days before the Browns came calling.

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With the Browns, Rush will join fellow Gamecock Gage Larvadain as players working to make the 53-man roster. Larvadain has been a surprise standout this summer, and that has translated to the NFL preseason. If made active, Rush will have his first opportunity to impress on Saturday when the Browns play the Philadelphia Eagles in the team’s second preseason contest.

During his South Carolina football career, Rush transitioned from a lightly recruited positionless three-star to a defensive star. He began his Gamecock tenure as a reserve receiver but moved to corner. That move paid off, as Rush turned into a two-year starter opposite All-SEC corner Cam Smith. The duo helped USC lead the Southeastern Conference in pass defense in 2021 and a fifth-place finish in 2022. Rush finished his time in garnet and black with three interceptions and 15 passes defended.

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