South Carolina Gamecocks defensive back Darius Rush (28) walks off the field following the Gamecocks’ loss to Missouri at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, SC on Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022.
Special To The State
South Carolina cornerback Darius Rush is turning pro.
Rush announced on Thursday via Twitter he intends to enter the NFL Draft following five years in Columbia.
“The last five years at South Carolina have been incredible,” he said in a video. “It’s been full of memories that will last forever and I’ll cherish forever.
“Since I was a kid I always dreamt of running out of that tunnel at Williams-Brice Stadium and that’s what Id did here. Forever grateful for all the memories I have in this stadium with the fanbase, teammates (and) coaches.”
The former CE Murray standout evolved into one of the Gamecocks’ most productive players in the secondary over the last two years after arriving at South Carolina as a receiver.
Rush, rated a three-star prospect in the class of 2018, started at cornerback opposite projected first round pick Cam Smith the past two years. He finished the 2022 campaign with 38 tackles, nine passes defended, two interceptions and one sack.
Rush accepted an invitation to play in the Reese’s Senior Bowl, which will feature some of the top prospects for this year’s NFL Draft.
Despite using four years of eligibility, Rush could’ve returned for another season due to the NCAA’s blanket COVID-19 waiver that allowed 2020 to not to count toward a players’ four years of eligibility.
Ben Portnoy is The State’s South Carolina Gamecocks football beat writer. He’s a five-time Associated Press Sports Editors award honoree and has earned recognition from the Mississippi Press Association and the National Sports Media Association. Portnoy previously covered Mississippi State for the Columbus Commercial Dispatch and Indiana football for the Journal Gazette in Ft. Wayne, Indiana.