Four members from the South Carolina football team will represent the program at the 2026 NFL scouting combine, the NFL announced today.
Defensive tackle Nick Barrett, cornerback Brandon Cisse, running back Rahsul Faison and defensive back Jalon Kilgore are the Gamecocks that have received the invitation to the event.
Barrett, a 6-foot-3-inch, 322-pound lineman, spent all five of his seasons in the garnet and black. The Goldsboro, North Carolina, native appeared in 51 games, accumulating 13 starts. Barrett started all 12 games for the Gamecocks in 2025, notching 42 tackles and two sacks.
Cisse earned a nod to the combine after posting three seasons at the collegiate level, his last one being with the Gamecocks. The 6-foot, 190-pounder from Sumter, South Carolina, accumulated 65 tackles, 10 pass breakups and two interceptions in his Division I college career. Cisse has started every game in his time with the Gamecocks.
Faison, who played his seventh collegiate season at the University of South Carolina, will enter the combine as a 26-year-old. Faison led the backfield in Columbia this past season, recording 470 yards on 4.9 yards per carry. Elsewhere in his Division I career, the Pottstown, Pennsylvania, native logged 1,845 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns in two seasons at Utah State.
Kilgore, a 6-foot-1-inch, 211-pound defensive back declared for the draft after spending all three of his collegiate seasons with the Gamecocks. The Eatonton, Georgia, native notched 178 tackles, 21 pass breakups and eight interceptions in 33 starts for South Carolina. During his freshman season in 2023, Kilgore was named to the SEC All-Freshman team.
The NFL scouting combine is an annual, invite-only event where top college prospects are able to showcase their talents to NFL scouts and executives. An invitation to the event improves one's likelihood of being drafted to the pro level.
Barrett, Cisse, Fashion and Kilgore are amongst the 319 athletes to be invited to the combine this year. The event will take place in Indianapolis, Indiana, from Feb. 23-March 2.