No Gamecocks selected in NFL Draft through three rounds

Pharoh Cooper and Jerell Adams will have to wait one more day.

The two South Carolina alums hoped to hear their names called Friday night, when rounds two and three of the NFL Draft were held, but neither was selected. It marks the first time since 2010 that no Gamecock has been taken in the first three rounds of the draft.

Cooper, a wide receiver, Adams, a tight end, and offensive lineman Brandon Shell are expected to be selected Saturday when rounds four through seven are held. Former Gamecocks running back Brandon Wilds and defensive linemen Gerald Dixon and Gerald Dixon Jr. also could be selected.

When Stanford tight end Austin Hooper was selected No. 81 overall in the third round by the Atlanta Falcons (a pick introduced by former South Carolina Gamecock and current Falcon Patrick DiMarco), ESPN analyst Mel Kiper made mention of Adams.

“Jerell Adams still on the board, a little surprising Hooper over Adams,” Kiper said.

“This guy is cleaner than Adams, and I love Adams,” fellow ESPN analyst Todd McShay said.

Adams was the No. 3 player and Cooper was the No. 7 player on Kiper’s “Best Available” list when the third round ended. Three tight ends were selected in the first three rounds, and nine wide receivers were taken in the first three rounds.

This story was originally published April 29, 2016 at 11:31 PM with the headline "No Gamecocks selected in NFL Draft through three rounds."