South Carolina UDFA tracker: Sherrod Greene getting NFL shot with New York Jets

The 2023 NFL draft has come and gone. Now comes undrafted free agent frenzy.

Five South Carolina players were selected in this year’s draft, but a handful more are expected to be in the mix for UDFA contracts, rookie mini camp invites and other varying chances to prolong their football careers.

Stay tuned here for the latest updates on which former Gamecocks will be joining NFL camps over the next few weeks.

Sherrod Greene joining the New York Jets

USC linebacker Sherrod Greene is expected to accept a rookie mini camp invite with the New York Jets, a source with knowledge of the situation told The State.

A North Caorlina native, Greene was rated a three-star recruit and the No. 518 player in the 2017 class, per the 247Sports Composite. He played parts of six seasons at South Carolina, suffering injuries during the 2020 and 2021 campaigns that curtailed his years.

Back healthy in 2022, Greene was initially beaten out for a starting job by Mo Kaba, but moved back into the starting lineup when Kaba suffered a torn ACL Week 2 at Arkansas. Greene turned in one of his more productive years to date this fall, finishing second on the team in tackles (77).

During his final college game, Greene notched 12 tackles and a quarterback hurry in the Gator Bowl loss to Notre Dame. He also had seven or more stops in five of the 12 games he played in this year.

Prior to his injuries, Greene made 35 appearances between the 2017, 2018 and 2019 seasons. He finished his South Carolina career with 51 games played — including 39 starts — while collecting 214 tackles and 14 tackles for a loss.

Josh Vann to Carolina Panthers

Former South Carolina receiver Josh Vann has signed with the Carolina Panthers, Panthers.com reported.

Vann led the Gamecocks in receiving during an improved 2021 campaign, finishing the year with 43 receptions for 679 yards and five touchdowns. Those numbers took a significant dip in 2022 due in large part to the emergence of Antwane “Juice” Wells Jr. and Jaheim Bell in the passing game.

Despite a slightly diminished role as a receiver, Vann flashed as a punt returner. His average return yardage jumped from 9.14 yards per return in 2021 to 14.09 this past season — including a 75-yard touchdown return against Charlotte that was called back due to a blocking penalty. Assuming he sticks on an NFL roster, special teams should be a big part of why.

A four-star receiver in the class of 2019, Vann had an up and down career at South Carolina before flashing his big-play potential in 2021. He also suffered a season-ending injury toward the tail end of the Clemson game this fall, but recovered enough to work out at USC’s in-house pro day last month.

Nate Adkins to Denver Broncos as free agent

Former South Carolina tight end Nate Adkins has signed with the Denver Broncos, according to Draft Countdown’s Shane Hallam and the Denver Post’s Ryan McFadden.

Adkins spent one year at South Carolina after playing at East Tennessee State. His father, Greg, was the Gamecocks’ offensive lineman last year before moving into an off-the-field role.

Nate Adkins was one of the most versatile members of the Gamecocks’ team, especially late in the season. He was mainly used as a blocker through much of the year, but expanded his game when injuries hit the tight end room.

By the end of the year, Adkins was the most only among the tight ends and had big performances against Clemson and in the Gator Bowl against Notre Dame. He had seven of the season’s 13 catches for 140 yards, including an amazing one-handed grab against Clemson, over the final two games.

Adkins also can long snap, which could help him make an NFL roster.

Eric Douglas to get tryout with Bucs

Offensive lineman Eric Douglas will get a mini camp invite to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, according a tweet by Douglas’ agent Logan Brown.

Douglas was a six-year player for the Gamecocks on the offensive line. He appeared in 57 games, third most in school history and made 37 starts.

Douglas started all 13 games during his senior season and was presented with the Community Service Award and was named one of the Rex Enright Captains’ Award recipients.

Douglas played alongside future NFL players Dennis Daley and Sadarius Hutcherson helping show him the ropes at USC. He said they “laid down a law” for how the game should be played. Douglas did the same thing for South Carolina’s young players.

“We tried to mimic that and we tried to pass that on to the younger guys,” Douglas said. ”That’s the main thing, just helping each other build.”

Other Gamecocks expected to get a free agent opportunity include Sherrod Greene, Dylan Wonnum and Brad Johnson.

South Carolina players taken in NFL Draft

It was another successful year for Shane Beamer’s squad on draft day. While the overall haul didn’t have the surefire top-end talent USC has produced in recent years, it was a solid group of former Gamecocks that heard their names called over the last three days.

Here’s the full list of South Carolina players that chosen this year:

• CB Cam Smith — Second round, No. 51 overall (Miami Dolphins)
  
  

• DT Zacch Pickens — Third round, No. 64 overall (Chicago Bears)
  
  

• CB Darius Rush — Fifth round, No. 138 overall (Indianapolis Colts)
  
  

• OL Jovaughn Gwyn — Seventh round, No. 225 overall (Atlanta Falcons)
  
  

• WR Jalen Brooks — Seventh round, No. 244 overall (Dallas Cowboys)

This story will be updated