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South Carolina senior accepts invite to postseason all-star game

by:Kevin Millerabout 8 hours

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South Carolina defenders Bam Martin-Scott, O'Donnell Fortune, and Jaron Willis (CJ Driggers/GamecockCentral)
South Carolina defenders Bam Martin-Scott, O'Donnell Fortune, and Jaron Willis (CJ Driggers/GamecockCentral)

On Wednesday, South Carolina football senior defensive back O’Donnell Fortune accepted an invitation to participate in this winter’s East-West Shrine Bowl. The all-star showcase will play for the 100th time later this month. The Shrine Bowl announced the news via social media.

Fortune, who previously accepted an invitation to play in the Hula Bowl, won’t be alone at the Shrine Bowl. Joining him in Arlington, Texas will be fellow Gamecocks Rocket Sanders and Kai Kroeger. Fortune and Kroeger have been teammates at USC for five seasons. All three players are NFL Draft hopefuls who will look to improve their stocks at the all-star event.

The East-West Shrine Bowl will present Fortune with the opportunity to practice and play in front of professional scouts, coaches, and decision-makers. The game will be on January 30th in AT&T Stadium, the home of the Dallas Cowboys. Practices, combines, and showcases will take place before the contest, and the game will be broadcast on NFL Network.

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Fortune had the best year of his career as a senior. He was the team’s No. 1 cover corner in 2024 and also set a career high with 47 tackles. Fortune had three interceptions on the season, but he had two more wiped off the board due to penalties on other players. One other Fortune pick counted, but the subsequent return for a touchdown was waved off after a review.

His best individual performance of the season came in the Gamecocks’ near-upset of Alabama. In what became a 2-point loss, Fortune logged nine tackles, a tackle for loss, and an interception against the ‘Tide.

During his South Carolina football career, Fortune showed himself to be a talent worth developing. Despite being a lower 3-star prospect coming out of Sumter High School, Fortune turned into a multi-year SEC starter. In fact, as a senior, he picked up some All-SEC recognition. Now, he has a real chance at earning a selection in April’s NFL Draft.

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