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Pair of South Carolina stars earn 1st-round 2026 NFL Draft projection

by: Kevin Miller06/04/25kevinbmiller52
South Carolina QB LaNorris Sellers drops back to pass against Clemson (Katie Dugan/GamecockCentral)
South Carolina QB LaNorris Sellers drops back to pass against Clemson (Katie Dugan/GamecockCentral)

Shane Beamer’s South Carolina football program saw five players drafted this spring. Despite multiple guys earning 1st-round grades over the last year, none heard their names called in the first 32 picks. (Three NFL teams drafted Gamecocks in the second round.) That could change in 2026.

On Tuesday, CBS Sports draft analyst Ryan Wilson released his first 2026 NFL Draft mock. Two South Carolina stars found themselves in his first round. Defensive back Jalon Kilgore, a rising junior, slots in at No. 19. Then, at pick No. 32, redshirt sophomore quarterback LaNorris Sellers rounds out Wilson’s first round. Both Kilgore and Sellers have been included in other first-round mocks this offseason, as well.

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For Kilgore, freaky athleticism, length, and positional versatility make him a very intriguing prospect. The All-SEC secondary man has primarily manned the nickel spot for the Gamecocks and has played some snaps at safety. However, there are some in the NFL scouting community who believe that he could play true corner, as well. Kilgore comes off the board at 19 to the Houston Texans in Wilson’s mock.

Said Wilson about Kilgore, “Long-legged, long-armed big slot who moves like a much smaller nickel. Long-strider with legit makeup speed who is also a thumper when coming downhill in run support.”

Sellers has been no stranger to offseason hype. Almost universally considered a top-10 Heisman Trophy candidate, the second-year starter will look to build off of a record-setting November and help push South Carolina to the College Football Playoff for the first time. If he has the big year necessary to make that happen, Wilson thinks he can compete for a top-five pick. For now, though, he has the New York Jets trading back into the first round to get him at 32.

Wilson said about Sellers, “Thick, physical, athlete who can win with his feet and also has a huge arm…Sellers is just incredibly raw. That said, there was a reason that every SEC edge rusher I spoke to at the combine earlier this year described Sellers as the toughest QB they faced. I got ‘Baby Cam (Newton)’ a lot as a descriptor, and when you watch Sellers play, it’s easy to see why. He does a lot of things really well; he just needs to play with more consistency, which will come with experience. He has the talent to be the No. 1 player in most draft classes.”

Earlier in his story, he also said, “Sellers, who is the best athlete of the bunch, has a huge arm, and every SEC edge rusher we talked to at the NFL Scouting Combine couldn’t say enough good things about him. Sellers does need to continue to grow as a passer, but if things click this season, he’ll be among the first players selected.”

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