South Carolina football captain explains "surreal" experience of working out for NFL scouts
South Carolina football senior captain Boogie Huntley won’t play again for the Gamecocks. However, on Tuesday, he had one final opportunity to compete alongside his teammates as USC held its annual Pro Day. Scouts and decision-makers from all 32 NFL franchises (and at least two organizations from the Canadian Football League) descended upon Columbia to watch Huntley and 24 others in garnet and black work out and go through drills.
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Speaking to GamecockCentral and other media after his day ended, Huntley called the experience “surreal.”
“It’s kind of surreal. Just growing up [in the program], you see the older guys do it, and you watch. You prepare for this moment the whole time,” he said. “So, I think we all had a good day. I’m proud of my boys and proud of myself. I trained a long time for this–hard work–just to see it all come to fruition is good.”
Huntley, a graduate who finished up his fifth year with the program this fall, has seen a long list of teammates compete on their respective Pro Days at South Carolina. His group of 25, though, is the biggest in Gamecock history.
With so many players hopeful for an NFL shot this summer, the stakes on Tuesday were high. Huntley didn’t shy away from that reality. But despite the stress of such an important day, he was confident knowing he was as ready as he possibly could be for this moment.
He told reporters, “For any job interview, it’s super stressful. Just because so much goes into it, not only the physical things but the mental things. You’ve just got to stay poised, know you’re prepared. And know that everything you did, you know, you worked for this.” He added, “I was super relaxed, super confident. And I knew I put the work in, I knew what I had to do.”
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For his efforts Tuesday, Huntley had a solid showing at Pro Day. Measuring in at 6-3 and 294 pounds with 33-inch arms, he competed well in his position drills. He also logged a 27.5-inch vertical, benched 225 pounds 22 times, and ran a 5.13 in the 40-yard dash.
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While they will never share the field again as Gamecocks, Huntley and his USC teammates know that the end of their careers doesn’t necessarily mean the end of their time together. Fellow defensive tackle TJ Sanders–who interviewed alongside Huntley–reflected on just how thankful he was that his football road led him to this point. Explained Sanders, “I’m just thankful, man. Just taking it all in. Without football, I never would have met a guy like Boogie, all my other guys that I’m teammates with, brothers I’ve got for life now.”
As has been talked about a lot since the 2024 season concluded, those brothers for life have a chance at making some history this spring. The Gamecocks have a strong shot at breaking their program record of seven players drafted. Four players could go as early as the draft’s first three rounds, while four others have been popular inclusions in mock drafts, too. Several other South Carolina football alums also could sneak into the late rounds this April. Still others should get NFL opportunities as free agents.
