COLUMBIA, S.C. — Several players who went to South Carolina colleges or who grew up in the Palmetto State were set to be selected on Day Two of the 2023 NFL Draft.
The NFL Draft is taking place this year in Kansas City, Missouri near the Kansas City Chief's home stadium. On Thursday, Alabama's Bryce Young was the number one overall pick going to the Carolina Panthers.
Day Two features both the second and third rounds of the NFL Draft. While every player homes to hear their name called in Round One, the following two rounds sees major stars picked as well and is where teams build out their depth and find potential starters.
Here is a list of key players who are from South Carolina or went to college here who have been picked Friday:
Cam Smith, DB, South Carolina Gamecocks - Round 2, Pick 51 overall by the Miami Dolphins
Smith, who grew up in Blythewood near Columbia, played four years for the Gamecocks, playing cornerback.
Coming out of Westwood High School he was ranked the 19th best cornerback in the country by 247Sports Composite, a recruiting website.
He had 91 tackles in 33 games and started a total of 19 games. He had six career interceptions and 18 pass breakups. One of his key games was during last year's upset win over Tennessee, when he had a season high seven tackles.
He's joining a Dolphins secondary that was decimated by injuries last season, which played a role in Miami finishing 27th in passing defense in 2022.
Zacch Pickens, DT, South Carolina Gamecocks - Round 3, Pick 64 overall by the Chicago Bears
Pickens, from Anderson, South Carolina went to T.L. Hanna High. Coming out of high school he was the top player in South Carolina and a top 10 overall prospect in the country by both 247Sports and Rivals.
Pickens played four years as a defensive tackle and made 32 starts. He had 131 career tackles including 11.5 tackles for a loss and 7.5 sacks.
Jalin Hyatt, WR, Tennessee Volunteers - Round 3, Pick 74 overall by the New York Giants
Hyatt is from Irmo, South Carolina and went to Dutch Fork High School where he led the team to back-to-back state titles. Coming out of high school he was a four-star recruit.
While at Tennessee he established himself as one of the top receivers in the SEC, but his junior season saw him turn into a national star. He caught 67 passes for 1,267 yards and a school-record 15 touchdowns, helping Tennessee become one of the most explosive offenses in the country.
Hyatt won the Biletnikoff Award, which goes to the nation's top receiver and became a unanimous first-team All-American. He had more 40+, 50+, and 60+ yard receptions than any player in the country.
