South Carolina football's top 10 all-time wide receivers

With spring practice over for South Carolina, Gamecock fans have about four months before their favorite team takes the field again for a game. To help bridge the gap (along with all of the recruiting coverage and summer updates you can read on GamecockCentral.com), GamecockCentral will be running a top-10 players by position series.

First, we took a look at the all-time great USC running backs.

Then this week, we moved to the wide receiver position.

Chris Clark, Wes Mitchell, and I have put together our own top 10 lists. Many of the Gamecock Faithful on The Insiders Forum also have taken part in a two-part voting run this week.

Not every great receiver could make the lists, so it is worth mentioning names like Jim Mitchell, Troy Williamson, Ace Sanders, Jermale Kelly, Brian Scott, Eddie Miller, Ira Hillary, Shi Smith, Phillip Logan, and JR Wilburn as additional players brought up during the discussion.

The results of all the voting are below, including a note on each player mentioned:

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Chris Clark

1. Alshon Jeffery
2. Sterling Sharpe
3. Sidney Rice
4. Kenny McKinley
5. Bryan Edwards
6. Deebo Samuel
7. Pharoh Cooper
8. Robert Brooks
9. Bruce Ellington
10. Xavier Legette

Why Alshon Jeffery is No. 1: “There’s some admitted recency bias at play for me. Sharpe could easily be considered the GOAT, and is by many. Simply put, he was before my time following the program. I saw every game Jeffery played in, and it was a sight to behold.”

Wes Mitchell

1. Sterling Sharpe
2. Alshon Jeffery
3. Sidney Rice
4. Kenny McKinley
5. Pharoh Cooper
6. Deebo Samuel
7. Bryan Edwards
8. Robert Brooks
9. Zola Davis
10. Fred Zeigler

Why Sterling Sharpe is No. 1: “For most of the time since Alshon Jeffery and Sidney Rice suited up in the Garnet and Black, I’ve had a back-and-forth internal debate about which was the best receiver in South Carolina history. One of those two is definitely the best in the last 25 years, but the more I’ve talked with those who also saw Sterling Sharpe, and of course saw Alshon and Sidney too, many of them will tell you that Sharpe was simply transcendent, a man playing a boy’s game. I wasn’t old enough to see it for myself, but I think the Pro Football Hall of Famer gets the slight edge.”

Kevin Miller

1. Alshon Jeffery
2. Sterling Sharpe
3. Sidney Rice
4. Bryan Edwards
5. Kenny McKinley
6. Pharoh Cooper
7. Deebo Samuel
8. Fred Zeigler
9. Robert Brooks
10. Xavier Legette

Why Alshon Jeffery is No. 1: “In an outrageously close decision, I’ve got to pick Alshon Jeffery as the top Gamecock receiver ever, just slightly edging Sterling Sharpe. Alshon owns the best single season in program history, is tied for the career touchdown record, and trails Bryan Edwards for the top spot in career receiving yardage by three despite playing a full season fewer. Sharpe’s greatness can’t be understated, but Jeffery gets the edge.”

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Votes in parentheses

1. Alshon Jeffery (111)
2. Sterling Sharpe (109)
3. Sidney Rice (82)
4. Deebo Samuel (67)
5. Kenny McKinley (63)
6. Robert Brooks (53)
7. Bryan Edwards (52)
8. Pharoh Cooper (43)
9. Bruce Ellington (40)
10. Fred Zeigler (31)

Notes on the Gamecock Greats

Alshon Jeffery: The best wideout of the Steve Spurrier era (one that included a prolific run of pass-catchers), Alshon Jeffery sat at the top among all South Carolina receivers in most single-season and career receiving records at the time he declared for the NFL Draft. It doesn’t hurt his GOAT candidacy that he had one of his top performances in the Gamecocks’ 2010 win over then-No. 1 Alabama when he snagged seven passes for 127 yards and two touchdowns.

Sterling Sharpe: Sterling Sharpe is the only Gamecock in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and his college career was just as prolific, making him one of two from USC currently in the College Football Hall of Fame. Until players like Sidney Rice, Kenny McKinley, Alshon Jeffery, and Bryan Edwards came along, Sharpe owned virtually every program receiving record. He also managed to do so while playing in an offense that changed identities multiple times. Adding in his special teams contributions and abilities in the run game, Sharpe might be the second-best player in South Carolina history behind only Heisman winner George Rogers.

Sidney Rice: Despite playing just two years in garnet and black, Sidney Rice is one of the best to ever do it. The Gaffney native was an unheralded recruit and then redshirted as a true freshman. However, in his two years on the field in Columbia, he was a star. Rice is the only Gamecock with multiple 1000-yard receiving seasons and the only one with two years of double-digit touchdown grabs. Frankly, had he played another year (or even two) at USC, he’d likely own every record in the book.

Kenny McKinley: The late, great Kenny McKinley was behind top dog Sidney Rice for two seasons but still managed to finish his Gamecock career as the all-time leader in receptions and receiving yards. Eventually, Alshon Jeffery and Bryan Edwards took those records, respectively, but McKinley was a great player who Steve Spurrier once said was “As good as anyone I’ve ever coached.”

Bryan Edwards: Bryan Edwards is South Carolina’s career leader in receptions and receiving yards. He didn’t always put up gaudy numbers, but his consistency allowed him to become the only Gamecock with four 500-yard seasons. Amazingly, he put up the numbers he did while playing alongside fellow USC greats like Deebo Samuel and Shi Smith. Edwards’ one-handed grab in a losing effort against Tennessee is one of the most impressive in school history, as well.

Deebo Samuel: Had injuries not robbed Deebo Samuel of over a dozen games over the course of his career, he would be even higher on these lists. In addition to his accomplishments as a pass-catcher, the multi-talented playmaker has more rushing touchdowns than any other full-time receiver who donned the Block C on their helmet and owns the team record for kickoff returns for touchdown, including two on his only two attempts in 2017. Samuel posted 23 career touchdowns from scrimmage, a number that matches Alshon Jeffery and Sidney Rice for tops at the wide receiver position.

Pharoh Cooper: Pharoh Cooper began his career as a defensive back, but Steve Spurrier quickly moved him to offense. The move paid off as the Havelock, North Carolina native became a star in garnet and black. As a receiver and wildcat quarterback, Cooper was an All-SEC performer in both of his years as a starter, logging over 2400 total yards and 20 touchdowns from scrimmage in 2014 and 2015. Against Tennessee in 2014, he registered 286 total yards, two receiving touchdowns, one rushing score, and one passing touchdown.

Robert Brooks: One of the most popular Gamecock receivers ever, Robert Brooks earned that popularity with a stellar career. Despite being recruited as a running back, Brooks became a great receiver in Columbia. He remains in the top 10 in USC’s record books in catches, touchdown receptions, and receiving yardage. Brooks also was a good return man at Carolina.

Bruce Ellington: Bruce Ellington didn’t even arrive at South Carolina as a football player. A 4-star basketball signee as a point guard, Ellington joined the football team in his second year and contributed as a rotational receiver and wildcat quarterback. However, in 2012 and 2013, the two-sport star showcased some of the best hands in program history. His overtime touchdown toss from Connor Shaw against Missouri in 2013 marks one of the greatest plays in recent memory.

Xavier Legette: A virtual afterthought for four years, Xavier Legette took advantage of the “Covid reshirt” with a fifth season in 2023 and became a first-round NFL Draft pick. His 1255 yards are the second-most in a single season behind only Alshon Jeffery’s 2010 campaign. As a redshirt senior, Legette became Spencer Rattler’s top target and a bona fide deep threat. A one-season wonder to be sure, XL is also one of the most beloved Gamecocks ever.

Zola Davis: Zola Davis played on some bad South Carolina football teams. Still, he managed to crack the program’s all-time top five in receiving yardage. Davis was a favorite target of talented Gamecock quarterbacks Steve Taneyhill and Anthony Wright. In a bit of statistical strangeness, he had his best year as a freshman, totaling 911 yards and nine touchdowns.

Fred Zeigler: Considered by many to be the program’s top receiver before Sterling Sharpe came around, Fred Zeigler was part of the 1969 ACC Championship squad. He led the team in receiving all three active seasons (freshmen couldn’t play back then), and he made a pair of all-conference teams. Despite playing in a non-passing era, Zeigler still resides in the top 12 among Gamecocks in total receptions and receiving yards.

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