Former South Carolina CB, 6th-round pick in 2024, placed on IR after ACL tear
By Sydney Hunte
Published:
Former South Carolina CB Marcellas Dial, a 6th-round pick by the New England Patriots in the 2024 NFL Draft, has been placed on injured reserve after tearing his ACL at training camp, according to WPRI-TV’s Mike Uva.
Dial played in every game for the Patriots in 2024, making 6 tackles. He was also credited with a forced fumble.
However, his second season in the league might be all but over before it began. Dial suffered the injury during a Monday practice.
Dial began his college career at Georgia Military College in 2019 but didn’t play in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He then transferred to South Carolina, where in 2021 he totaled 33 tackles and 6 passes defensed. He posted 45 tackles, 3 interceptions, and 12 PDs in 2022 before putting up 36 tackles, 10 PDs, and a sack in 2023. Following the 2023 season, Dial was selected by the Patriots in the 6th round.
New England finished 4-13 in 2024, Jerod Mayo’s first and only season as head coach, as he took over for the legendary Bill Belichick. Mike Vrabel was then hired to the position, his first head coaching job since being fired by the Tennessee Titans after 6 seasons.
Sydney is an Atlanta-based journalist who has covered everything from SEC and ACC football to MLS, the U.S. men's national soccer team and professional tennis. His work has appeared on such platforms as SB Nation, Cox Media Group and FanSided.
