3 South Carolina Gamecocks selected in 2026 NFL Draft. Here’s what to know
The South Carolina Gamecocks had three players drafted in the 2026 NFL Draft, marking the eighth-straight year the program has produced at least three selections. Cornerback Brandon Cisse, defensive tackle Nick Barrett and defensive back Jalon Kilgore all heard their names called over the span of Friday and Saturday.
FULL STORY: Finally! South Carolina’s Jalon Kilgore picked on Day 3 of NFL Draft
Here are key takeaways:
• Cisse went first: The Green Bay Packers selected cornerback Brandon Cisse in the second round (No. 52 overall), making him the fourth South Carolina DB taken in the first or second round in the past six years.
• Cisse is a South Carolina native from Sumter who transferred from N.C. State. He started all 12 games for the Gamecocks, allowing an 18-for-38 catch rate on passes thrown his way.
• Barrett headed to West Coast: The Los Angeles Chargers took defensive tackle Nick Barrett with the 145th pick (fifth round). Barrett spent all five years of his college career at USC, tallying 42 tackles, six tackles for loss and two sacks as a redshirt senior.
• Kilgore slid further than expected: Despite mock drafts projecting him as the second Gamecock off the board, DB Jalon Kilgore waited until pick No. 167 when the Buffalo Bills selected him in the fifth round.
• The DB pipeline keeps producing: Kilgore became the eighth South Carolina defensive back drafted since 2021, a group that includes first-rounder Jaycee Horn and second-rounders Cam Smith, Nick Emmanwori and Cisse.
The summary points above were compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists. The source reporting referenced above was written and edited entirely by journalists.
This story was originally published April 27, 2026 at 9:18 AM with the headline "3 South Carolina Gamecocks selected in 2026 NFL Draft. Here’s what to know."
