Jeffery, Gilmore declare for draft
COLUMBIA -- All along, wide receiver Alshon Jeffery and cornerback Stephon Gilmore were considered the two most likely South Carolina juniors to leave early for the NFL draft. So it should have come as no great surprise Thursday that both chose to do that.
Jeffery's decision was announced by South Carolina. Gilmore's mother, Linda Gilmore, confirmed his decision. NFLDraftScout.com ranks Jeffery as the No. 40 overall prospect and No. 5 receiver. It ranks Gilmore as the No. 50 overall prospect and No. 7 cornerback. Among USC players, only senior consensus All-America defensive end Melvin Ingram is rated higher -- No. 14 overall.
As the Gamecocks prepare to replace Jeffery and Gilmore, they also await the decision of junior defensive end Devin Taylor. Taylor has said he was not projected to be picked in the first three rounds by the NFL's committee that offers underclassmen projections on where they might be selected. Underclassmen have until Jan. 15 to enter the draft.
Though not entirely unexpected, losing Jeffery and Gilmore hurts USC, which is trying to build on its first 11-win season.
Jeffery is the most productive receiver in USC history. He finishes as the school's all-time leader in receiving yards with 3,042, which ranks second in Southeastern Conference history. Jeffery is No. 2 at USC in career catches (183) and tied for first in touchdowns (23). His 148 yards in Monday's Capital One Bowl win over Nebraska -- all in the first half before he was ejected in the third quarter -- gave him a school-record 12 career 100-yard receiving games.
Gilmore started every game in his college career and finished with eight interceptions and 17 pass break-ups, including four interceptions (one in the bowl game) and seven break-ups this year. He has good size for a corner (6-1, 193 pounds), which could help him at the next level.
Jeffery is also a big body (6-4, 229 pounds), but a lack of elite speed will be a concern for both he and Gilmore, according to analysis of their NFL potential on NFLDraftScout.com.
Jeffery's departure means USC's offense is losing a total of four players who started in 2011. The others are tackle Rokevious Watkins, tackle Kyle Nunn and right guard Terrence Campbell.
In addition to Gilmore, the defense will lose Ingram, tackle Travian Robertson, spur linebacker and leading tackler Antonio Allen, cornerbacks C.C. Whitlock and Marty Markett (who shared a starting spot) and linebacker Rodney Paulk (who split starting duties with junior Shaq Wilson). Free safety D.J. Swearinger and strong safety DeVonte Holloman will both return in 2012 after submitting their paperwork to the NFL advisory committee.
Jeffery's numbers in 2011 weren't as impressive as 2010, but he was by far USC's leading receiver with 49 catches, 762 yards and eight touchdowns. The No. 2 receiver was sophomore Ace Sanders: 29 catches, 383 yards and two touchdowns.
But Sanders is just 5-7. As USC looks for a big target to replace Jeffery, candidates could include 6-4 D.L. Moore and 6-1 Shamier Jeffery, Alshon's younger brother. Moore had eight catches for 52 yards and a touchdown as a junior in 2011. Jeffery redshirted as a freshman.
Redshirt freshman Victor Hampton was Gilmore's backup, and likely would have been slotted as a starter in 2012 anyway, since Whitlock and Markett are gone. The likely other starting cornerback next season, at least at this point, is Akeem Auguste. He redshirted in 2011 because of a foot injury and will be a fifth-year senior in 2012. He started nine games at corner in 2009 and 10 at free safety in 2010, and then moved back to corner last spring.
