Who are the best draft picks of the century from the most prominent programs in college football? College Football 24/7 set out to answer this question by ranking the top draft picks since 2000 from the 30 schools that have produced the most picks since that year.
Players were ranked through a formula in which they received points for honors they've acquired in their NFL career, including being selected to the Pro Bowl (including as injury replacements) and being selected first-team All-Pro. Players were also rewarded relative to where in the draft they were selected. First-round picks benefited least because a strong career would be expected; seventh-round picks benefited most. In some cases, a bonus for longevity or outstanding play was granted. See the full formula below the list of top picks.
The series continues with a look at South Carolina's top draft picks of the century. With 54 of them since 2000, the Gamecocks rank 29th among all schools. Former New York Jets and Atlanta Falcons pass rusher John Abraham paced the group, while another promising pass rusher, Jadeveon Clowney, qualified for honorable mention (he lost on a tiebreaker with Stephon Gilmore for the No. 5 slot). The program has taken a downturn in the draft since Clowney went No. 1 overall in 2014, though, as it didn't have a player picked in the first two rounds in 2015, nor in the first three rounds in '16. The Gamecocks didn't have a single player drafted this year.
Best picks of the century from South Carolina
1. John Abraham, defensive end
Points: 18.7
Drafted by:Jets, No. 13 overall pick (Round 1), 2000
Skinny: Abraham was a dynamic pass rusher for the Jets, notching 53.5 sacks and 19 forced fumbles in six seasons. In his second pro season, Abraham tied Mark Gastineau's club record of four sacks in a single game against the New Orleans Saints. A rare three-team trade brought him to Atlanta, where he was selected first-team All-Pro in 2010. The five-time Pro Bowl selectee finished his career in 2014 with 133.5 career sacks, which ranks 12th all-time.
2. Alshon Jeffery, wide receiver
Points: 3.6
Drafted by:Bears, No. 45 overall pick (Round 2), 2012
Skinny: After five years with the Bears, including a Pro Bowl year in 2013 in which he accounted for 1,421 yards, Jeffery signed in March with the Philadelphia Eagles. He's proven to be a tough, physical matchup for cornerbacks at 6-foot-3, 218 pounds, but his 2015 season was shortened by injury, and in 2016, he incurred a four-game suspension from the league for violating its policy on performance-enhancing substances.
3. Johnathan Joseph, defensive back
Points: 2.2
Drafted by:Bengals, No. 24 overall pick (Round 1), 2006
Skinny: Joseph played five years with the Bengals, rebounding from a foot injury that put him on injured reserve in 2008 to make a career-high six interceptions in 2009. He signed a five-year deal with the Houston Texans in 2011 and made the Pro Bowl in his first two years there. Houston signed him to a three-year extension in 2015.
4. Sidney Rice, wide receiver
Points: 1.2
Drafted by:Vikings, No. 44 overall pick (Round 2), 2007
Skinny: Rice appeared to be on track for a long and productive career in 2009 when he made the Pro Bowl after reeling in 83 catches for 1,312 yards (fourth in the league) and eight touchdowns for the Brett Favre-led Vikings. He tied a playoff record with three TD catches in a game that year. Injuries were his downfall, though, as he only appeared in more than nine games once more (in 2012 with the Seahawks) after that career season. He retired after seven seasons, citing concussion concerns, at 27 years old.
5. Stephon Gilmore, cornerback
Points: 1.1
Drafted by:Bills, No. 10 overall pick (Round 1), 2012
Skinny: The Gamecocks have produced two top-10 draft picks in the last 12 years: Jadeveon Clowney, and Gilmore. Gilmore was a fixture in the Bills starting lineup for his first five NFL seasons, and made his first Pro Bowl last season after recording a career-high five interceptions. In March, Gilmore signed with the New England Patriots.
Honorable mention: DE Jadeveon Clowney, DE/OLB Melvin Ingram, CB Dunta Robinson.
Total number of picks from South Carolina since 2000: 54
2017 draft picks from South Carolina: None.
Draft multiplier: Total points for first-round picks x 1.1; second-round picks x 1.2; third-round picks x 1.3; fourth-round picks x 1.4; fifth-round picks x 1.5; sixth-round picks x 1.6; seventh-round picks x 1.7.
Tiebreaker: Ranking edge to lower-drafted player within same round.
Specialists and fullbacks: For players honored primarily as specialists or fullbacks, their total points were devalued. Kickers and punters were not included in this exercise.
*Follow Chase Goodbread on Twitter **@ChaseGoodbread*.
