Some damn good players have come through South Carolina since coach Steve Spurrier arrived.
Here’s my personal list of the five best Gamecocks players of the Spurrier era. This was a very hard list to make, a testament to the talent that Spurrier’s been able to bring to Columbia. This list is in no particular order.
Sidney Rice: I remember Rice being labeled as the next Randy Moss when I first got to SC. Although I didn’t get a chance to play with him because he declared for the draft early, I got to see plenty of game footage of him and he was an unreal player in college, and in the NFL.
Marcus Lattimore: One of the best to ever wear the garnet and black, Marcus wasn’t just a top player in the Spurrier era. He was even a better teammate. He hated being tackled and would always fight for extra yardage. From when he first busted onto the national stage as a freshman against Georgia in 2010, we all knew he was going to be a special player. He’s definitely one of the best.
Alshon Jeffery: This was my guy. Alshon was one of the best receivers at the college level, and his talent has translated to the NFL. As his quarterback for more than two years, I had so much trust in that guy and would try to get the ball to him as often as possible. There’s no doubt he is one of the best in the Spurrier era.
Jadeveon Clowney: There’s no question that he should be on this list. I mean, when a guy is so good that the head coach doesn’t want him practicing against the first-string lineman for fear of hurting the quarterback, you know he’s gotta be pretty good. He went first overall in last year’s draft and there’s no doubt why he did. He’s an absolute freakish athlete and as much as people talk trash about him, he has a very good work ethic. He was blessed with unbelievable talent and busted his ass to be the best he could be.
Eric Norwood: The defensive end was one of the best in the conference during his tenure at SC. A little undersized for the NFL, his draft stock suffered when he declared. The guy was just a beast though. He never stopped running to the ball and would always seem to be in the backfield harassing the opposing quarterback. He’s now North of the border in the Canadian Football League and he’s a perennial all-star.
Also Considered: Connor Shaw, Melvin Ingram, Stephon Gilmore, Chris Culliver, Wes Saunders, Emanuel Cook, Jared Cook and Ryan Succop.
The Man. The Myth. The Legend.
