COLUMBIA — They’ve studied, tested and are waiting for the results. Therein lies the hardest part.
Five South Carolina standouts begin the three-day wait for a phone call on April 28 when the NFL begins its annual draft extravaganza. Lifetimes of dreams are included in seven rounds and 262 picks, the agony of passing time immediately erased if “Unknown Caller” with an NFL-city area code pops on the display.
Some of the Gamecocks will get a call. Some won’t. Some will have to wait until after Saturday’s final round concludes to get their calls with free-agent invitations to preseason camp.
But all will realize just how hard they’ve worked starting Thursday, and hope that it’s about to pay off.
“Any time you ever come here and showcase what you got, it’s a blessing. I feel like I did that,” said edge rusher JJ Enagbare, the highest-rated of USC’s draft hopefuls, at Pro Day. “I feel like my film, most importantly, shows what I’m capable of doing and the kind of impact I’m capable of having at the next level.”
Enagbare was considered a potential first-rounder going into the 2021 season and is now someone who may still sneak into the first round, but is more likely a high second-round pick, according to projections. Coming out in a class of highly-ranked edges (Michigan’s Aidan Hutchinson and Oregon’s Kayvon Thibodeaux are each expected to go in the Top 10, if not Top 5, Enagbare’s stock may have slightly dropped due to simply not being those guys.
He had 4.5 sacks among seven tackles for loss last year, breaking up two passes, collecting 11 quarterback hurries and forcing and recovering one fumble. Enagbare is a strong, sturdy player but the measurables the NFL Combine values so much (40-yard dash, shuttles and cone drills) weren’t in his favor.
Enagbare’s times were merely okay at the Combine and Pro Day. He’s a prospect but most likely not somebody teams will be scrambling to get with their first pick.
As for running back Kevin Harris, it’s an intriguing guess to when he’ll be snapped up. There’s definitely enough to love: Two seasons ago, Harris led the SEC in rushing and is one of just nine Gamecocks to rush for 1,000 yards in a season. He’s physical and big-bodied up top, a boon in the NFL.
Yet the back injury that cost him preseason camp last year and hindered his ability in the first half of the season is a question for NFL teams, and Harris is considered a second- or third-round pick. A dynamite bowl game still had Harris lead the Gamecocks with 659 yards and four touchdowns last year and showed exactly what top-form Harris looks like, but that may not be enough to get Harris a secure place in the league.
“Just to catch the ball, really. I didn’t drop any passes out there,” Harris said at Pro Day, referring to what scouts told him he needs to work on. “It’s a great moment, a lifetime moment. I came in very professional and just handled my business today.”
Safety Jaylan Foster, tight end Nick Muse and running back ZaQuandre White could all be Day 3 picks or top free-agent considerations. All of them had strong seasons, particularly Foster, who went from former walk-on to All-American, but they’re all in the same grade of NFL scouting: They do some things really good but not one thing great.
White is more explosive than Harris and relies on spinning out of tackles or avoiding them rather than running over defenders, as Harris does. He can be a threat out of the backfield and perhaps make a dent on special teams.
Muse has a don’t-stop motor and could also be a special-teams contributor, but he’s inconsistent catching the ball. He helped himself by running a great 40 at Pro Day.
Foster is on the NFL radar after he led the Gamecocks in tackles and tied for the SEC lead in interceptions last season. It was a great story to watch and the storybook would have an outstanding ending if its final chapter featured Foster in an NFL uniform.
Yet teams will have to look past his height (a listed 5-9¾) and so-so measurables to give him a spot. Then again, all he’s ever asked for is a chance, and he used that to spawn great success at USC.
“I’m a football player. That’s what you see from me every time you see me on the field,” Foster said at Pro Day. “The same thing — flying around, getting to the ball, play-making skills.”