South Carolina defender earns first-round NFL Draft grade again

With the 2025 season in the rearview mirror for South Carolina football, attention has turned to offseason conversations. Coaching changes, recruiting, the transfer portal, and NFL Draft hypotheticals dominate Gamecock headlines.

In thinking through the 2026 NFL Draft, South Carolina is in the unique position of having most of its draft-caliber players with remaining collegiate eligibility. Joining players like quarterback LaNorris Sellers, wide receiver Nyck Harbor, and defensive back Jalon Kilgore in that regard is junior cornerback Brandon Cisse.

This week, ESPN’s Field Yates released his updated NFL Draft mock for next April. Cisse’s name featured in the first round as a pick of the Seattle Seahawks at No. 29 overall.

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Below is what Yates had to say about Cisse:

“Seattle is searching for a cornerback to play opposite of Devon Witherspoon, as the team has relied upon Josh Jobe this season, and Riq Woolen is in the final year of his rookie deal. Cisse is an ascending corner who showed off impressive man coverage skills after transferring from NC State in the spring. He broke up 10 passes over the past two seasons, allowing a completion percentage under 40% in 2025. He’s extremely comfortable lining up opposite bigger-bodied perimeter wide receivers, which could be asked of him in Mike Macdonald’s defense.”

If Cisse were to go to Seattle in the first round (the 29th pick is a hypothetical projection based on current NFL standings), he would be the second Gamecock defensive back taken early by the Seahawks in the past two years. Nickel/safety Nick Emmanwori has been one of the league’s best rookies in his first year in the Pacific Northwest. Linebacker Ernest Jones has had a strong year with the franchise, as well.

Yates’ ESPN colleague Matt Miller recently shared a mock draft that also included Cisse in the first round to Seattle.

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For Cisse, this offseason will come with a big choice. Will he make the jump to the NFL game, or will he return to South Carolina for one final year? If he truly is a first-rounder come next April, making the jump to the next level will be hard to pass up. Underclassmen have until the middle of January to make their final NFL Draft declarations.

During his one year with the Gamecocks following a transfer from NC State, Cisse was an impact player in the secondary. Opposing offenses didn’t challenge him often, but he knocked away five passes and intercepted one more. He was also a willing tackler in run support. Cisse primarily started at corner, though he played some nickel from time to time.

An NFL scouting source recently told GamecockCentral that some organizations value Cisse as a nickel at the next level. However, he has extensive experience playing outside corner, as well. That versatility could serve him well as a pro.

If he declares for the draft, Cisse could be the first South Carolina product off the board this April. However, it is worth noting that Sellers, Harbor, and Kilgore are somewhat polarizing prospects who have very high standings within some NFL scouting departments.

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