Kevin Harris, Jaylan Foster among South Carolina’s Pro Day standouts. What we learned
Eleven former South Carolina football players took the next step toward professional careers Friday as USC held its annual Pro Day.
Ex-Gamecocks spent the morning running through drills and workouts in front of NFL scouts and personnel at the Jerri and Steve Spurrier Indoor Practice Facility.
Here are the sights and sounds from the day:
- South Carolina running back Kevin Harris continued to boost his draft stock after a strong performance at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis two weeks ago. Harris didn’t drop a pass during on-field work and looked quick in the open field. He was slated to run the 40-yard dash, but pulled a hamstring midway through his run. He did not record a time and still ran through receiver drills after the injury.
- Speaking of fast, Gamecocks defensive lineman Jabari Ellis recorded, from what he was told, between a high 4.6 and low 4.7-second 40-yard dash. That’s about as fast as it gets for a player listed at 6-foot-3, 278 pounds. Ellis was a stalwart along the defensive line for USC last season and his speed on Friday might be enough to convince NFL teams to take a flier on him as a late-round pick or undrafted free agent.
- All-American safety Jaylan Foster also showed out in the 40-yard dash. Official times have yet to be released, but Foster was reportedly clocked somewhere around 4.5 seconds. The former walk-on is a bit of a late-bloomer in NFL Draft circles, but assuming his time holds up, that ought to encourage teams to take a shot on him at some point next month.
- South Carolina defensive end/linebacker Kingsley “JJ” Enagbare wasn’t quite as explosive as might’ve been prognosticated in the preseason. Enagbare entered the year as a possible first round pick, but a forgettable NFL combine showing has his projections all over the place. He had a few missteps during on-field drills on Friday and his 40-yard dash, at least on the surface, didn’t appear to help his cause. Enagbare told reporters after the event he felt his tape showed he could be an elite NFL talent. His draft projection is now perhaps the biggest wild card of any Gamecock in this year’s class.
- Tight end Nick Muse looked the part of a possible late-round pick during on-field work. Muse made a couple tough catches over the middle and said his 40-yard dash felt like it was somewhere in the 4.6 second range (again, official times should come out later). Muse’s brother Tanner, a former Clemson standout, was also in attendance, watching Nick workout from the sidelines.
- USC kicker Parker White also participated in Pro Day. White worked through field goals, kickoffs and punts during the time he was on-field. While the Mount Pleasant native said he would’ve liked to have a few kicks back, he was encouraged by his punting performance. White also noted a handful of scouts told him his 10-foot, 6-inch broad jump was among the best they’d ever seen from a specialist.
- South Carolina graduate assistant Zeb Noland served as the quarterback for prospects on Friday. Noland, who was added to the roster during fall camp last year and played in seven games for the Gamecocks, has stepped back into his role as a coach since the end of the 2021 season. Ellis quipped Noland “still has some juice,” when asked what it was like to see him throwing passes again.
- A number of current Gamecocks attended Friday’s event. Quarterbacks Spencer Rattler, Colten Gauthier and Braden Davis all watched from the sidelines. Defensive backs Cam Smith, R.J. Roderick and offensive lineman Jovaughn Gwyn, among others, also spent their morning watching their former teammates work out.
NFL Draft Dates
When: Round 1, April 28; Rounds 2-3, April 29; Rounds 4-7, May 1
Where: Allegiant Stadium — Paradise, Nevada (Las Vegas Raiders home stadium)
TV: ESPN, NFL Network and ABC (TBD in what order)
This story was originally published March 18, 2022 at 1:47 PM with the headline "Kevin Harris, Jaylan Foster among South Carolina’s Pro Day standouts. What we learned."
Ben Portnoy
The State