‘Never lost faith, never lost hope,’ three Gamecocks taken in NFL Draft
Born in Florida, Dennis Daley cheered for the Miami Dolphins even after he and his family moved to Columbia. Not anymore.
“I was never a Panthers fan growing up, but I’m a Panthers fans now,” Daley said. “I’m a Panthers fan now for sure.”
Daley, an offensive tackle at South Carolina for the last two seasons, was drafted by the Carolina Panthers on Saturday afternoon with a compensatory pick between the sixth and seventh rounds in the NFL Draft.
He joined wide receiver Deebo Samuel (second round, San Francisco 49ers) and cornerback Rashad Fenton (sixth round, Kansas City Chiefs) as Gamecocks selected in this year’s draft. The three selections ties for the highest number of USC products picked in one year since 2013, when seven Gamecocks were selected.
Four South Carolina players have been taken in the last three NFL drafts. That’s the fewest Gamecocks taken in a three-year stretch since 1994-1996. Offensive lineman Zack Bailey agreed to a free agent contract with Tampa Bay immediately after the draft and linebacker Bryson Allen-Williams is expected to get a deal Saturday.
Daley, a former Ridge View High School star, watched the draft with his family at his mother’s house in Columbia on Saturday. He is the first South Carolina offensive lineman drafted since Brandon Shell in 2016.
“It’s a blessing,” he said. “I sat here and waited all day yesterday and all day today. I never lost faith, never lost hope. I was relaxed the whole time. I knew it was going to come sooner or later.”
When he saw a 704 area code on his phone Saturday afternoon, he knew his time had come.
“I think I talked to the whole staff. I can’t remember who I talked to first,” Daley said. “That’s probably one of the best things that has happened to me honestly.”
Daley, 6-5, 317 pounds, played two seasons at Georgia Military College and then started 25 games on the offensive line for the Gamecocks.
Fenton, a 5-11, 188-pounder from Miami, was taken by the Chiefs No. 201 overall. He had three interceptions for the Gamecocks last season and five in his career. He had 123 career tackles.
He is the first South Carolina cornerback selected since Stephon Gilmore was taken in the first round in 2012. A three-star prospect when he signed with the Gamecocks, Fenton ran a 4.52 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine in February.
South Carolina NFL Draft picks
Second round
36: Deebo Samuel to San Francisco 49ers
Sixth round
201: Rashad Fenton to Kansas City Chiefs
Compensatory pick (between sixth and seventh rounds)
212: Dennis Daley to Carolina Panthers