The 2027 NFL Draft is still over a year away, but early projections are already heating up for South Carolina football stars Dylan Stewart and LaNorris Sellers. After three Gamecocks were selected in the 2026 draft, head coach Shane Beamer is poised to see more of his players hear their names called next spring.
Let's start with Dylan Stewart, the 6-foot-5, 245-pound edge rusher who has been a starter for the past two seasons. Despite battling a back injury in 2025 and still recovering, Stewart is widely viewed as a top-10 pick across multiple mock drafts. Athlon Sports ranks him as the fourth-best prospect in the entire 2027 class, while The Sporting News slots him ninth among its top 50. ESPN projects him going No. 9 overall to the New Orleans Saints, The Athletic has him at No. 5 to the Tennessee Titans, and CBS Sports agrees with the Saints at No. 7. Sports Illustrated is slightly lower, placing him at No. 11 to the Washington Commanders. If Stewart can deliver one healthy, productive season, it's clear the experts expect him to be an early pick.
Quarterback LaNorris Sellers had a breakout 2024 campaign but struggled in 2025, making his third season a critical audition for NFL scouts. Sports Illustrated boldly projects him at No. 5 overall to the Cleveland Browns, but other outlets are more cautious. ESPN, CBS Sports, and The Athletic don't have him in the first round at all. Athlon Sports ranks him 17th overall, with three quarterbacks ahead of him, and The Sporting News leaves him off their top prospects list entirely. Sellers remains an intriguing name to watch as he looks to rebound.
Other Gamecocks are also generating buzz. Offensive tackle Jacarrius Peak, a transfer from NC State who missed spring practice with an injury, is projected to go No. 17 overall to the Cincinnati Bengals by The Athletic. Wide receiver Nyck Harbor—a 6-foot-5 speedster who led the team in 2025 with 618 receiving yards and six touchdowns, averaging a career-best 20.6 yards per catch—is ranked No. 70 on Pro Football Focus's prospect list.
Of course, a lot can change between now and April 2027. But for Gamecocks fans and draft watchers alike, these early projections offer a thrilling glimpse at what could be a landmark draft for South Carolina football.