A year removed from finishing Gamecock career, he's going to an NFL minicamp

There was an unexpected presence at South Carolina's football pro day in March: Wide receiver Matrick Belton.

He was unexpected because he didn't play for USC last season. He wrapped up a five-year career as a Gamecocks walk-on in 2016, not catching any passes in his final campaign. Yet he was there.

Now the Keenan High School product tweeted he's getting a shot at continuing his career.

Belton tweeted Monday he's been invited to the Philadelphia Eagles rookie minicamp. That's a spot many players go after the NFL draft, trying to fight for a chance to extend a football career a little longer.

Belton's image still hangs in banner form at Williams-Brice.

He started his career at Hampton University, catching four passes as a true freshman. He didn't play as a sophomore, transferred to USC as a junior, and after sitting out a year, posted a solid campaign. On a receiver-starved squad, he made five starts, catching 11 passes for 121 yards. That made him the team's third-most productive receiver behind Pharoh Cooper and Deebo Samuel, who played only five games.

The 6-foot-3, 215-pounder worked out in Columbia the last year and was assistant this year at Airport High School football team. He caught on with The Spring League this year.

This story was originally published April 30, 2018 at 2:37 PM with the headline "A year removed from finishing Gamecock career, he's going to an NFL minicamp."