Gamecocks in the NFL: Week 9 recap

The eyes of the college football world descended on Williams-Brice Stadium Saturday night, where South Carolina pulled off a 44-20 upset win over Texas A&M.

But stars from Gamecock football’s past still shined in the professional ranks this weekend, where more than two dozen players were present on NFL rosters.

Here’s how South Carolina football program alumni performed for their respective professional teams this past week.

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AFC East

Cam Smith – Cornerback, Miami Dolphins
Smith nearly mirrored his stat line from his season debut in the Dolphins’ 30-27 loss to the Buffalo Bills. He recorded four tackles, all of which were solo stops, across 28 defensive snaps.

Marcellas Dial Jr. – Cornerback, New England Patriots
Dial Jr. played exclusively on special teams in the Patriots’ 20-17 win over the New England Patriots. Across 22 special teams snaps (a statistic he led the team in for a sixth consecutive week), he made two tackles and received a 91.4 grade from PFF, the highest of any Patriots special teams player.

Kevin Harris – Running back, New England Patriots
Harris is currently a member of the Patriots’ practice squad and did not make an appearance in the Patriots’ Week 9 victory.

Javon Kinlaw – Defensive tackle, New York Jets
Kinlaw made two tackles (including one solo stop) in the Jets’ 21-13 win over the Houston Texans on Thursday Night Football. In the process, he continued a streak of logging at least one solo tackle in each of the nine games he has played this season. Kinlaw played 59 total snaps in the victory – 53 on defense and six on special teams.

AFC South

Chris Lammons – Defensive back, Indianapolis Colts
Lammons returned to practice on Thursday and Friday this past week due to a finger injury, which resulted in him not carrying an injury designation into the Colts’ Week 9 contest against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday Night Football. He played nine special teams snaps in the team’s 21-13 loss.

AFC West

Nate Adkins – Tight end, Denver Broncos
After scoring a touchdown on his lone reception last week, Adkins was not targeted in the Broncos’ 41-10 defeat to the Baltimore Ravens. He played 27 offensive snaps in the contest.

Nick Gargiulo – Guard, Denver Broncos
Gargiulo is currently a member of the Broncos’ practice squad and did not feature in the team’s Week 9 loss.

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Darius Rush – Cornerback, Kansas City Chiefs
Rush is currently a member of the Chiefs’ practice squad and did not feature in the team’s 30-24 overtime victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday Night Football.

Hayden Hurst – Tight end, Los Angeles Chargers
Hurst was a limited participant in practice on Wednesday, but he was elevated to full participant status on Thursday and Friday this past week while dealing with a groin injury. He did not carry an injury designation into the Chargers’ Week 9 contest against the Cleveland Browns. Hurst made his return to the field in the 27-10 victory, logging one catch for six yards in eight snaps of action.

NFC East

Rico Dowdle – Running back, Dallas Cowboys
Dowdle put up a strong performance in a 27-21 defeat to the Atlanta Falcons during which the Cowboys struggled. He was by far the team’s leading rusher, totaling 75 yards on 12 attempts. Dowdle also scored a touchdown on a three-yard pass from Dak Prescott in the second quarter, which contributed to a five-catch, 32-yard performance through the air.

Israel Mukuamu – Safety, Dallas Cowboys
Mukuamu did not record any statistics during the Cowboys’ Week 9 loss. He did, however, play 15 snaps on defense and 18 more on special teams in the contest.

Jalen Brooks – Wide receiver, Dallas Cowboys
Brooks received five targets, which resulted in two catches for 26 yards, during Week 9. He recorded these statistics over 59 total snaps – 56 on offense and three on special teams.

Dante Miller – Running back, New York Giants
Miller is currently a member of the Giants’ practice squad and did not feature in the team’s 27-22 defeat to the Washington Commanders.

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NFC North

Zacch Pickens – Defensive tackle, Chicago Bears
Pickens logged his first statistic of the 2024 season – an assisted tackle – in the Bears’ 29-9 loss to the Arizona Cardinals. He played a season-high 24 snaps (22 on defense and two on special teams) in the defeat.

Kingsley Enagbare – Defensive end, Green Bay Packers
Enagbare made four tackles, two of which were solo stops, in the Packers’ 24-14 defeat to the Detroit Lions. He logged these statistics over 22 snaps on defense and 10 more on special teams.

Keisean Nixon – Defensive back, Green Bay Packers
Nixon made six tackles (including four solo stops) in the Packers’ Week 9 loss. He appeared on all 57 of the team’s defensive snaps and played an additional 10 on special teams in the contest.

Stephon Gilmore – Cornerback, Minnesota Vikings
Gilmore logged a three-tackle, one-solo stop performance (in addition to defending one pass) in the Vikings’ 21-13 win over the Colts. He played 50 defensive snaps in the contest.

Nick Muse – Tight end, Minnesota Vikings
Muse has been on the Vikings’ injury reserve since Sept. 18 due to a minor fracture in his hand. Because of this, he did not feature in the team’s Week 9 victory.

NFC South

Jovaughn Gwyn – Guard, Atlanta Falcons
After seeing his first action of the 2024 season last week, Gwyn did not record any statistics or play any snaps in the Falcons’ 27-21 win over the Cowboys.

Jadeveon Clowney – Linebacker, Carolina Panthers
Clowney followed up his season-best performance with another solid display in the Panthers’ 23-22 victory over the New Orleans Saints. He recorded four tackles (including two solo stops) across 58 defensive snaps.

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Jaycee Horn – Cornerback, Carolina Panthers
Horn made two assisted tackles in the Panthers’ Week 9 win. He appeared on 79 of the team’s 80 defensive plays and recorded its third-highest overall defensive PFF grade (72.6).

Xavier Legette – Wide receiver, Carolina Panthers
Legette began the week as a limited participant in practice on both Thursday and Friday, which led to him carrying a “questionable” designation into the Panthers’ Week 9 contest. He would go on to be the team’s third-leading receiver that afternoon, as he was targeted six times and gained 33 yards on four receptions. One of those catches – a three-yard pass from Bryce Young – gave the Panthers an early 7-6 lead. Legette was also credited with one rushing attempt for six yards.

D.J. Wonnum – Linebacker, Carolina Panthers
Wonnum was a full participant in practice on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday this past week after being cleared to resume activity on Oct. 23. He did not carry an injury designation into Sunday’s game. Wonnum did not, however, see the field in the contest.

Spencer Rattler – Quarterback, New Orleans Saints
Derek Carr’s return from injury bumped Rattler into a backup role with the Saints, who fell by a 23-22 score to the Panthers. Rattler did not feature after starting three straight games for the team.

Adam Prentice – Fullback, New Orleans Saints
Prentice did not record any statistics during the Saints’ Week 8 loss. He did, however, play 22 offensive snaps in the contest.

NFC West

Deebo Samuel Sr. – Wide receiver, San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers were on bye during Week 7, so Samuel Sr. did not play this past week. He is in the process of recovering from a hip injury he suffered during Week 8.

Ernest Jones – Linebacker, Seattle Seahawks
Jones continued his strong start with the Seahawks, tying for the team lead with nine tackles (including six solo stops) in its 26-20 overtime loss to the Los Angeles Rams. He appeared on all 77 of the Seahawks’ defensive plays and earned the team’s highest overall defensive grade (83.4), according to PFF.

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