COLUMBIA, S.C. — On Thursday, the South Carolina football program opened up its indoor facility to the rest of the Palmetto State for a statewide Pro Day.
With scouts holding stop watches and clip boards, players from all over the state arrived for tests of speed, quickness and agility.
Former S.C. State defensive back Decobie Durant had an idea of what Pro Day was going to. The reigning MEAC Defensive Player of the Year ran a blistering 4.38 40 at the combine. While he did not run a 40 at Pro Day, he went through plenty of drills as he looks to add to the Orangeburg pipeline to the NFL.
Durant is a big reason why the Bulldogs won the Celebration Bowl in December at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium. But Durant figures his last game and his next game wil also be inside an NFL stadium.
But in spite of the impressive 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine and the glowing coverage he has received, Durant approaches every workout as if he is the lowest rated player the draft pool.
"I'm going to come in every day with a chip on my shoulder," Durant said.
"And I'm going to hold that chip until I get a gold jacket around my shoulders".
The "gold jacket" is what is worn by those inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Last year, four-time Super Bowl champion Donnie Shell became the fourth S.C. State product to make the trip to Canton following Harry Carson, Deacon Jones and Marion Motley.
Thursday Pro Day Notes
With Clemson holding its Pro Day earlier in the day and South Carolina's Pro Day set for Friday morning, the Thursday afternoon gathering saw virtually every school in the state send draft-eligible players to the Jerri and Steve Spurrier Indoor Facility. Benedict College, Newberry College, Wofford, The Citadel and Furman were among the schools represented at the Palmetto State Pro Day.