5 Best South Carolina Gamecocks Football Players, Ranked

The South Carolina Gamecocks football program was established in 1892, and over the years, they’ve had several notable head coaches, including Lou Holtz and Steve Spurrier. 

Today, football betting odds are available on their college football lines. 

These sports betting odds can be found at the BetMGM online sportsbook. 

I’ll rank the top five Gamecocks below. 

5 Best South Carolina Gamecocks Football Players, Ranked

South Carolina Gamecocks All-Time Greatest Football Players

1. George Rogers

Rogers played running back for South Carolina from 1977 to 1980. 

He ran for 5,204 yards (the most in program history) and holds the top two single-season marks, highlighted by 1,894 yards in 1980. 

He also had 31 rushing touchdowns (second)

Rogers won the Heisman Trophy (1980) and the Chic Harley Award (given to the “College Football Player of the Year”). 

He was also a unanimous All-American and a first-team All-American, and the team retired his No. 38. 

Rogers is enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame. 

2. Jadeveon Clowney

Clowney is the most dominant defensive player in South Carolina history.

He spent time rushing the passer there from 2011 to 2013. 

He recorded 24 sacks, just five shy of Eric Norwood’s record, and he played one more season than Clowney. 

Clowney does, however, hold the single-season record (13) and single-game record (4.5). 

He won the Ted Hendricks Award (top defensive end), was the SEC Defensive Player of the Year (2012), was a two-time first-team All-American, a two-time first-team All-SEC selection, a second-team All-SEC pick, the SEC Freshman of the Year, and the school retired his No. 7. 

3. Alshon Jeffery

Jeffery played wide receiver at South Carolina. He was there from 2009 to 2011. 

In those three seasons, he caught 183 passes (third) for 3,042 yards (second) and 23 touchdowns (tied for first).

He holds the single-season records for receptions and receiving yards, going for 1,517 yards on 88 catches in 2010. 

He was a first-team All-American, was named first- and second-team All-SEC, first-team Freshman All-American, first-team Freshman All-SEC, and the Gamecocks retired his No. 1. 

4. Sterling Sharpe

Sharpe played wide receiver at South Carolina from 1983 to 1987. 

While there, he caught 169 passes (fifth) for 2,497 yards (fourth) and 17 touchdowns (tied for fifth). 

Sharpe held the receptions and receiving yardage records until the turn of the century. 

Sharpe was a first- and third-team All-American, and the school retired his No. 2.

He’s enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame. 

5. Connor Shaw

The quarterback for South Carolina from 2010 to 2013, Shaw was excellent, going 33-9 across 42 starts. These included wins in the Capital One Bowl (twice) and the Outback Bowl.

He threw for 6,074 yards (sixth) and 56 touchdowns (second). 

He recorded 7,757 total yards (fourth) and 73 total touchdowns (first).