NFL playoffs to feature long list of South Carolina Gamecocks

With Week 18 of the NFL wrapping up on Sunday night, the NFL Playoffs are set. And for this year, it’ll feature 13 former South Carolina players.

Below are a list of the players who are on teams who’ll be getting set to play in this year’s playoffs and their NFL playoff background. On Saturday, be sure to check back in with GamecockCentral for your weekly “Gamecocks in the NFL” guide for kickoff times and any injury updates.

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Jadeveon Clowney

BALTIMORE RAVENS – LB #24

After tying his career-high in sacks this season (9.5), Clowney put together his best statistical season in five years. This will be the sixth time that Clowney will be on a team that’s made the playoffs. Injuries have limited him to appearing in just five games. He’s reached the AFC Divisional Round twice.

Melvin Ingram

MIAMI DOLPHINS – LB #9

In his 12th NFL season, this weekend will mark the ninth career NFL playoff game that Ingram has played in. The furthest the 34-year-old has ever gone in the playoffs was an appearance in the AFC Championship Game during the 2021 season with the Kan City Chiefs.

Cam Smith

MIAMI DOLPHINS – DB #24

The rookie defensive back has mainly played on special teams this season and heads into his first playoff with just two tackles this season.

Darius Rush

PITTSBURGH STEELERS – DB #21

After being released by the Indianapolis Colts, Rush has made the most out of his opportunity with the Steelers. The rookie has appeared in three games this season but was inactive for the Steelers final four games.

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Javon Kinlaw

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS – DT #99

After being inactive for the playoffs two years ago, Kinlaw made his NFL playoff debut last season. He’s appeared in three NFL playoff games in his career and he’s reached the NFC Championship Game.

Deebo Samuel

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS – WR #19

This will mark the fourth time that Samuel has made the NFL playoffs. In each of three other appearances, he’s been part of teams who reached at least the NFC Championship Game. Samuel played in Super Bowl LIV during his rookie season.

Jalen Brooks

DALLAS COWBOYS – WR #83

The rookie wide out appeared in seven games this season for the Cowboys. While he was inactive for ten games this season, he dressed for the final two and could find himself active this weekend for Dallas.

Rico Dowdle

DALLAS COWBOYS – RB #23

In his fourth NFL season, Dowdle has never appeared in an NFL playoff game before despite the Cowboys making the playoffs with him the past two years.

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Stephon Gilmore

DALLAS COWBOYS – DB #21

One of only two current Gamecocks in the NFL playoff with a Super Bowl ring, Gilmore will be making his fourth appearance in the playoffs. The previous three were with the Patriots where he reached the Super Bowl twice.

Israel Mukuamu

DALLAS COWBOYS – S #24

This will be the third straight year that Mukuamu has been part of the NFL playoffs. Last year, he appeared in his first two playoff games and reached the NFC Divisional Round.

Ernest Jones

LOS ANGELES RAMS – LB #53

Coming off a record setting year, Jones finished the regular season with franchise record 145 tackles. A Super Bowl LVI champion as a rookie, this will mark the second time that Jones has reached the playoffs in his career.

Kingsley Enagbare

GREEN BAY PACKERS – LB #55

The second-year linebacker is set to make his first NFL playoffs appearance this weekend. He appeared in 17 regular season games this year.

Keisean Nixon

GREEN BAY PACKERS – CB #25

Nixon last appeared in an NFL playoff game during the 2021 season with the Las Vegas Raiders. In that game against the the eventual AFC Champion Cincinnati Bengals, he finished with two tackles with the majority of his snaps coming on special teams.

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