Few college football programs can claim to have produced multiple players selected with the first pick in the NFL Draft.
South Carolina is among that elite group, joining a group of 19 schools that have reached that milestone since the NFL Draft began in 1936.
The Gamecocks’ two top selections came 33 years apart: George Rogers as an explosive running back who won the 1980 Heisman Trophy, and Jadeveon Clowney as a dominant defensive end who terrorized opposing quarterbacks during his record-setting career.
Both players became No. 1 overall picks after leaving lasting legacies in Columbia.
George Rogers, 1981
Running back George Rogers became the first South Carolina player selected No. 1 overall when he went to the New Orleans Saints with the top pick in the 1981 NFL Draft.
Rogers cemented his legendary status by becoming the program’s first and only Heisman Trophy winner in 1980, rushing for a nation-best 1,781 yards and 14 touchdowns.
Nicknamed “Big George,” he holds the school’s career rushing record with 5,204 yards and ran for over 100 yards in 22 straight games.
Jadeveon Clowney, 2014
Over three decades after Rogers made program history, Jadeveon Clowney became South Carolina’s second No. 1 overall pick when the Houston Texans selected him first in the 2014 NFL Draft.
The nation’s top high school recruit developed into a defensive force during his three seasons in Columbia, including single-season program records of 13 sacks and 23.5 tackles for loss as a sophomore.
Clowney cemented his place in college football lore during the 2013 Outback Bowl against Michigan. His ferocious, helmet-knocking tackle on running back Vincent Smith forced a fumble that Clowney recovered, became a viral sensation and won the ESPY for Play of the Year.
The 19-program club
USC leads all schools with six No. 1 overall picks, most recently quarterback Caleb Williams in 2024.
Georgia, Notre Dame and Oklahoma each have five. Auburn and Stanford have four. LSU, Ohio State, Texas and Miami have three.
South Carolina shares the two-pick tier with Alabama, California, Indiana, Michigan, Nebraska, Penn State, Tennessee and Virginia Tech.
Here’s a look at the schools that have produced multiple No. 1 overall picks in the NFL Draft:
USC (6)
OT Ron Yary (1968), HB O.J. Simpson (1969), HB Ricky Bell (1977), WR Keyshawn Johnson (1996), QB Carson Palmer (2003), QB Caleb Williams (2024)
Georgia (5)
HB Frank Sinkwich (1943), HB Charley Trippi (1945), WR/DE Harry Babcock (1953), QB Matthew Stafford (2009), DE Travon Walker (2022)
Notre Dame (5)
QB Angelo Bertelli (1944), QB Frank Dancewicz (1946), WR/DE Leon Hart (1950), HB Paul Hornung (1957), DE Walt Patulski (1972)
Oklahoma (5)
DE Lee Roy Selmon (1976), HB Billy Sims (1980), QB Sam Bradford (2010), QB Baker Mayfield (2018), QB Kyler Murray (2019)
Auburn (4)
HB Tucker Frederickson (1965), HB Bo Jackson (1986), LB Aundray Bruce (1988), QB Cam Newton (2011)
Stanford (4)
QB Bobby Garrett (1954), QB Jim Plunkett (1971), QB John Elway (1983), QB Andrew Luck (2012)
LSU (3)
TE Billy Cannon (1960), QB JaMarcus Russell (2007), QB Joe Burrow (2020)
Miami (3)
QB Vinny Testaverde (1987), DL Russell Maryland (1991), QB Cam Ward (2025)
Ohio State (3)
LB Tom Cousineau (1979), DT Dan Wilkinson (1994), OT Orlando Pace (1997)
Texas (3)
LB Tommy Nobis (1966), HB Earl Campbell (1978), DE Kenneth Sims (1982)
Alabama (2)
HB Harry Gilmer (1948), QB Bryce Young (2023)
California (2)
QB Steve Bartkowski (1975), QB Jared Goff (2016)
Indiana (2)
FB Corbett Davis (1938), QB Fernando Mendoza (2026)
Michigan (2)
HB Tom Harmon (1941), OT Jake Long (2008)
Nebraska (2)
FB Sam Francis (1937), WR Irving Fryar (1984)
Penn State (2)
RB Ki-Jana Carter (1995), DE Courtney Brown (2000)
South Carolina (2)
RB George Rogers (1981), DE Jadeveon Clowney (2014)
Tennessee (2)
HB George Cafego (1940), Peyton Manning (1998)
Virginia Tech (2)
DE Bruce Smith (1985), QB Michael Vick (2001)
Mike Garbett is a content specialist working with McClatchy’s Content Innovation Lab.