Poll: Who are the greatest South Carolina football players of all time?
The State is publishing a “Mount Rushmore of South Carolina Athletics” series this summer. Each week we’ll determine the best of the best for various Gamecock sports program. Last week we unveiled the Mount Rushmore of USC baseball.
Up next: South Carolina football.
After sorting through stats, records books and crowd sourcing on social media, The State compiled a list of 14 players across program history as the best to ever suit up for the Gamecocks.
Choose four players you think deserve to be on the Mount Rushmore of South Carolina baseball. Make your voice heard and cast your votes below the bios. Vote as often as you like — and use the comments feature on this story to “write in” another one of your favorites.
We’ll unveil our own picks Monday for the Mount Rushmore of USC football.
Player bios
Jadeveon Clowney (2011-13): Clowney is one of the best to ever suit up for South Carolina. He was a two-time All-American, two-time All-SEC selection and was the 2012 SEC Defensive Player of the Year. He won the Ted Hendricks Award in 2012 and finished sixth in Heisman Trophy voting that year. Clowney finished with 129 total tackles, 48 tackles for loss and 24 sacks in his career. He holds USC’s single-season record for tackles for loss (23.5) and sacks (13). Clowney’s No. 7 jersey was retired in 2022.
Todd Ellis (1986-89): Ellis rewrote the passing portion of the South Carolina record book during his time with the Gamecocks. He finished his career with 9,519 passing yards, which is still No. 1 in record book. Ellis was an All-American in 1986 and an All-South Independent player in 1987. Ellis was inducted into the South Carolina Athletics Hall of Fame in 2005.
Stephon Gilmore (2009-11): Gilmore was a Freshman All-American in 2009 and earned All-American honors in 2010. He was also a multi-time All-SEC player. Gilmore led the team in tackles with 79 in 2010 and interceptions in 2010 and 2011.
Jeff Grantz (1973-75): Grantz was a multi-sport player at South Carolina, starring on the Gamecocks’ football and baseball teams. He totaled over 5,000 total yards of offense and his name is peppered throughout the program record book. Grantz was an All-American quarterback for South Carolina in 1975. He was inducted into the South Carolina Athletics Hall of Fame in 1985.
Alshon Jeffery (2009-11): Jeffery finished his career as South Carolina’s all-time leader in receiving yards and now sits as No. 2 in the program record book with 3,042 yards. He holds the record for receiving yards in a season (1,517). Jeffery was an All-American and All-SEC wide receiver who had his No. 1 jersey retired in 2023.
Marcus Lattimore (2010-12): Lattimore’s career may have been shortened due to injuries, but he’s still considered a fan favorite and one of the best to wear the garnet and black. He was a Freshman All-American and SEC Freshman of the Year in 2010 after rushing for 1,197 yards and 17 touchdowns. Lattimore was a three-time All-SEC player and holds the program record for rushing touchdowns (38) and touchdowns from scrimmage (41). He was inducted into the South Carolina Athletics Hall of Fame in 2019.
Kenny McKinley (2005-08): McKinley is top five in the program’s record book for career receiving yards (2,781) and touchdowns (19). He was a multi-time All-SEC player and holds the program record of 43 consecutive games with a reception. McKinley, who died in 2010, was inducted into the South Carolina Athletics Hall of Fame in 2015.
Eric Norwood (2006-09): The outside linebacker had a prolific career with the Gamecocks. He was a Freshman All-American in 2006 and an All-American again in 2009. Norwood was a three-time All-SEC player whose name pops up throughout the defensive side of the program record book. Norwood holds the record for career tackles for loss (54.5) and sacks (29). He was inducted into the South Carolina Athletics Hall of Fame in 2017.
Sidney Rice (2005-06): Rice had a short career at South Carolina but made his impact on the record book in his two seasons. He’s sixth on the career receiving yards list with 2,233 and is tied with Alshon Jeffery for the most receiving touchdowns (23) in a career. Rice holds the record for touchdown receptions in a game (5) and was a Freshman All-American and All-SEC pick at South Carolina.
George Rogers (1977-80): Rogers is widely considered one of the best players — perhaps the very best — to ever play football at South Carolina. He became the program’s only Heisman trophy winner in 1980 and still holds the record for rushing yards in a season (1,894) and a career (4,958). Rogers rushed for at least 100 yards in 27 games at South Carolina, including his last 22 consecutive games as a Gamecock. Rogers’ jersey was retired following his final game of his career in 1980 and he was inducted into the South Carolina Athletics Hall of Fame in 1987.
Sterling Sharpe (1983-87): Like Rogers, Sharpe had his jersey retired after his final game while he was still at South Carolina. At the conclusion of his college career he was the Gamecocks’ all-time leading receiver with 169 catches for 2,497 yards and 17 touchdowns. The two-time All-American is a South Carolina Athletics and Pro Football Hall of Famer.
Connor Shaw (2010-13): Shaw is the winningest quarterback in South Carolina history. He captained the Gamecocks to three-straight 11-win seasons and finished his career with 27 wins and a 17-0 mark at home. Shaw is second in career passing touchdowns (56) and was inducted into the South Carolina Athletics Hall of Fame in 2021.
Steve Taneyhill (1992-95): Taneyhill finished his time at South Carolina as the program’s all-time leader in passing touchdowns (61). He totaled 8,555 passing yards with the Gamecocks, making him the second-leading passer all-time at South Carolina. Taneyhill was a Freshman All-American and SEC Freshman of the Year in 1992 and led South Carolina to its first bowl win in the 1995 Carquest Bowl. He was also known for his iconic mullet and was inducted into the South Carolina Athletics Hall of Fame in 2006.
Steve Wadiak (1948-51): Wadiak’s No. 37 jersey was retired after a stellar career at South Carolina. He is fourth in career rushing at South Carolina with 2,878 yards. He was an All-American in 1951 and two-time All-Southern Conference player in. Wadiak, who died in 1952, was inducted into the South Carolina Athletics Hall of Fame in 1967.
