Gamecock great provides helping hands to make NFL team division champions

Alshon Jeffery is a champion.

At least, a member of the NFC East champions, as the former South Carolina Gamecocks star helped the Philadelphia Eagles clinch their division title Sunday.

Jeffery scored a pivotal touchdown in Sunday’s 43-35 win over the Los Angeles Rams, making the Eagles the first NFL team to win their division this season.

With Philadelphia trailing 28-24 with less than 3 minutes to play in the third quarter, the St. Matthews native made one of his trademark dazzling touchdown receptions to put his team ahead on the scoreboard.

It was fourth-and-goal from the Rams’ 2-yard line when Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz fired a strike into traffic. It looked like the pass might have been intended for Nelson Agholor, but was behind him and L.A. safety Lamarcus Joyner seemed to have a line on what could have been an interception.

But Jeffrey, who built a reputation for making the impossible happen when pulling down catches for the Gamecocks, sneaked in and snatched the ball. He briefly bobbled it as he was sliding to the ground, before righting himself, halting his forward momentum, and hauling in the touchdown catch.

It was a record-setting touchdown, as Wentz set a franchise mark on the play with his 33rd TD pass of the season. It might have been his last, as well. He left the game and reportedly tore his ACL.

For the game, Jeffery had five receptions for 52 yards and the touchdown. Overall this season, Jeffery has 52 receptions for 732 yards and eight touchdowns in his first season with Philadelphia.

Jeffery’s emergence after a slow start has been critical to the Eagles’ success. He played the first five seasons of his career with the Chicago Bears, and was named to the Pro Bowl in 2013.

At USC, Jeffery was twice named All-SEC and an All-American in 2010, when he hauled in 88 catches for 1,517 yards and nine touchdowns. In three seasons as the Gamecocks’ top receiver, Jeffery amassed 183 receptions, 3,042 yards and 23 touchdowns.

One of Jeffery’s Palmetto State counterparts when he was at USC had a touchdown for the Rams. Sammy Watkins, who was a star receiver for the Clemson Tigers, had a 1-yard touchdown catch in the third quarter.

Another former Gamecock played an important role for the Rams. Pharoh Cooper only had one catch for 1 yard, but was such a threat returning kickoffs the Eagles kicked short to try and keep the ball out of his hands. Cooper returned two kickoffs for 46 yards.

This story was originally published December 10, 2017 at 8:29 PM with the headline "Gamecock great provides helping hands to make NFL team division champions."