In the world of college football, everyone is desperate for an edge — not just in the win column, but in bragging rights over the other schools in the NCAA.
An arena where this debate for institutional superiority has heated up centers around the question of which school has produced the most elite NFL players in certain position groups.
There has been a longstanding argument between LSU and Ohio State about who gets to crown themselves “WRU," the school that produces the best wide receivers. The end may not be in sight either, with former Tigers Justin Jefferson, Ja’Marr Chase and Malik Nabers on one side, and former Buckeyes Jaxson Smith-Njigba, Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave on the other.
But what if I told you the University of South Carolina has a claim to be the nation's best producer of talent in a position group? The Gamecocks have a strong case to claim "Defensive Back University."
The first South Carolina Gamecock to be selected in the first-round of an NFL draft was actually a defensive back — Rick Sanford, drafted in 1979. Born in Rock Hill, SC, he was an All-American as a senior for the Gamecocks and played for the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks in his six-season professional career. He racked up 16 interceptions across his time in the NFL.
South Carolina would have to wait a while for another first round DB, but in 2004 Dunta Robinson arrived.
After being drafted by the Texans with the 10th pick, he had a strong rookie campaign in 2004, making the All-Rookie team, finishing second in AP Defensive Rookie of the Year voting and winning PFWA Defensive Rookie of the Year. He stuffed the stat sheet with three sacks, three forced fumbles, 19 passes defended and six interceptions.
After some conflict over his contract with the Texans in 2009, Robinson made headlines when he wore custom “pay me rick” cleats addressing GM Rick Smith in 2009.
Eventually he did get that payday, signing a rich deal with the Atlanta Falcons in 2010. In Atlanta he got a reputation as a hard, illegal hitter, with two dangerous hits in two years on DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin before the Falcons released him in 2013. He was signed then released by the Chiefs a year later before his NFL career came to a close.
In 2005, All-SEC DB Rodriques Wilson was selected in the 7th round with the 220th pick. The Cross, SC native’s playing career lasted five seasons, with stints at the Chicago Bears, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Jacksonville Jaguars. Wilson then had a fruitful coaching career afterwards, earning three Super Bowl rings as part of the Kansas City Chiefs coaching staff. He was an assistant special teams coach for Super Bowl LIV, becoming a defensive assistant for Super Bowls LVII and LVIII in 2022 and 2023. He's currently the inside linebackers coach for the Arizona Cardinals.
The next Gamecock first rounder defensive back came in 2006 when Jonathan Joseph was selected 24th overall by the Cincinnati Bengals after boosting his draft stock with a 4.3 40-yard dash at the NFL combine. He played with the Bengals and from 2006-2010, and in 2011 he signed with the Houston Texans and was named a Pro-Bowler in his first two seasons there. He closed out his pro career with the Tennessee Titans and Arizona Cardinals in 2020.
Over the course of Joseph’s NFL career, he totaled 200 passes defended, the second most in NFL history behind only Champ Bailey (203). He snagged 32 interceptions, seven of them returned for touchdowns.
One of the main claims the Gamecocks have to the “DBU” title is Stephon Gilmore. Drafted by the Buffalo Bills in 2012, he would earn the first of five Pro-Bowl appearances in 2016, his final season with the team.
The next four Pro-Bowl nods came consecutively with the New England Patriots (2018-20) and the Carolina Panthers (2021). In this span, Gilmore was named First Team All-Pro twice (2018-19), won NFL Defensive Player of the Year (2019), and became a Super Bowl LIII Champion with the Patriots.
After leaving the Panthers in 2021, his career wound down with short stints with the Indianapolis Colts, Dallas Cowboys, and Minnesota Vikings before officially retiring from football in April of 2026.
The Rock Hill native’s impact was undeniable, evidenced by the fact that he became the first cornerback in 10 years to win Defensive Player of the Year when he earned the award in 2019. That season he totaled 6 interceptions and 20 passes defended; both league high totals.
Another first round Gamecock came along in 2021, when Jaycee Horn was selected eighth by the Carolina Panthers. In his five-year NFL career to this point, he has two Pro-Bowl selections and posted five interceptions and eight passes defended in 2025 as the Panthers returned to the playoffs.
The most recent high round DBs for the Gamecocks have come in the second round, with cornerback Cam Smith to the Miami Dolphins in 2023, and safety Nick Emmanwori to the Seattle Seahawks in 2025.
Emmanwori was an immediate hit for the Seahawks. The former first team All-SEC defender did everything on the football field with nine tackles for a loss, 2.5 sacks, 11 passes defended and an interception in the regular season.
During the season, Seahawks head coach Mike MacDonald said of his defensive versatility, “We've never really had a player like him.”
Emmanwori proved MacDonald right in the postseason as well, where his unique defensive playmaking ability was an integral aspect of the Seahawks' Super Bowl winning run.
There are more Gamecock defensive backs on the way to making their mark at the next level; Brandon Cisse and Jalon Kilgore were drafted by the Packers and Bills respectively in the 2026 Draft and are preparing for their rookie seasons.