South Carolina Top 5 NFL Draft Prospects

Gridiron Heroics partners with Draft Scout to give each school’s Top 5 NFL Draft prospects in the SEC. Welcome to a list of the South Carolina Top 5 NFL Draft prospects, as seen by Draft Scout.

Each week brings us closer and closer to one of the most anticipated days on the sports calendar — the NFL Draft. This year’s draft will be held in Kansas City, Mo. from April 27-29.

Our series will run beginning Oct. 31 and running for five consecutive days, with three schools running per day in alphabetical order. A master conference list of the SEC’s Top 20 NFL draft prospects will wrap things up on Friday, Nov. 4. Please check the team links below frequently so you can check out the other schools’ top prospects as the week progresses.

SEC TOP 25 PROSPECTS: Overall SEC Top Prospect List

SEC EAST PROSPECTS:  Florida | Georgia | Kentucky | Mizzou | South Carolina | Tennessee | Vanderbilt

SEC WEST PROSPECTS:  Alabama | Arkansas | Auburn | LSU | Mississippi State | Ole Miss | Texas A&M

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So we all know that not every team in the country has five surefire draft picks on it. Some programs do, especially in some of the more elite conferences, but the vast majority don’t have that many top-flight prospects. But, we also know that the definition “top-flight” doesn’t always pan out, and at the same time that potent undrafted free agent everybody forgot? He ends up making an NFL and flourishing.

Below is a look at Florida’s Top 5 Draft Prospects, and how they project in the eyes of Draft Scout. For now, we’ll go strictly with seniors, as no underclassmen have been allowed to declare earlier yet, though when they do? We’ll update the lists below.

SOUTH CAROLINA’S TOP 5 NFL DRAFT PROSPECTS

NO. 1 PROSPECT

NAME: Zacch Pickens DT

DRAFTSCOUT PROJECTION: 4th round

CAREER STATISTICS: 43 total stars – 121 total tackles 62 solo and 52 assisted 9 TFL 6 sacks

THE TRUTH: Top 100 senior DT out of SEC teams with a high potential to be a game wrecker.  running a 4.70 at 290 pounds he has the size and weight to take on most Offensive linemen

NO. 2 PROSPECT

NAME: Jordan Strachan DE

DRAFTSCOUT PROJECTION: 6th round

CAREER STATISTICS: 38 games played, 17 starts- 110 total tackles, 62 solo and 48 assisted, 25.5 TFL 14.5 sacks with 3 Forced Fumbles and snagged 1 INT

THE TRUTH: Low production but a big body that in the suitable scheme can dominate the game, top ten senior OLB that can generate pressure

NO. 3 PROSPECT

NAME: Austin Stogner TE

DRAFTSCOUT PROJECTION: 6th round

CAREER STATISTICS: 42 games played, 17 starts – 64 receptions so far with a total of 857 yards 9 touchdowns

THE TRUTH: Decent starter TE, that can produce if he is not down on the depth chart, worth a late-round flyer

NO. 4 PROSPECT

NAME: Josh Vann WR

DRAFTSCOUT PROJECTION: 6-7th round

CAREER STATISTICS: 53 Games played, 21 starts – 98 receptions with 1146 yards and 7 touch downs

THE TRUTH: Good WR that can get the YAC that is needed.  Big body WR that is good with contested catches.  Is a solid WR2 on most teams that can get the job done.  Low production but fast speeds can excel on teams.

NO. 5 PROSPECT

NAME: Darius Rush CB

DRAFTSCOUT PROJECTION: 7th- UDFA round

CAREER STATISTICS: 39 games played with 17 games played – 59 total tackles with 47 solo and 12 assisted  2 INTs, 3 TFL 1 sack 1 FF

THE TRUTH: Decent CB.  Good for depth.  Nothing too flashy but has the potential to make teams and give an action as low CB or special teams.