The likes of Alshon Jeffrey, Stephon Gilmore and Marcus Lattimore are locks for roster spots with their respective teams. Let's take a look at some of the other guys that are traveling a tougher road to achieve their NFL dream.
Cuts so far:
Tori Gurley, Buffalo Bills: Gurley is once again on the move and is in search of his next NFL team. Since 2011, Gurley has been cut by eight NFL teams. In the 2014 preseason, Gurley caught 4 passes for 51 yards. With his history, Gurley has a good chance of landing on an NFL roster as possible special teams contributor or practice squad member.
Chaz Sutton, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: A long shot to make the squad, Sutton was among the first round of cut by the Bucs. Sutton, an undrafted free agent after the 2014 NFL Draft, was buried at the bottom of the depth chart and didn't turn enough heads to warrant a roster spot. In three preseason games, Sutton logged a single tackle.
Still Alive:
Connor Shaw, Cleveland Browns: Despite playing in only one preseason game, Connor Shaw is still a part of the Cleveland Browns. In the single game he played, Shaw went 8-9 for 123 yards, and one touchdown that happened to be a 45-yard Hail Mary as time ran out. Expect Shaw to see more action in the Browns next preseason matchup as he's competing with fellow former Spurrier pupil Rex Grossman for the third quarterback spot.
Kelcy Quarles, New York Giants: Undrafted after the 2014 NFL Draft, Quarles caught on with the New York Giants. Despite battling injury, Quarles still finds himself a member of the Giants.
T.J. Johnson, Cincinnati Bengals: Another undrafted free agent after the 2013 NFL Draft, T.J. Johnson spent the entire '13 season on the Bengals practice squad. While the Cincinnati offensive line has been affected by injury, Johnson has garnered significant playing time so far during the '14 preseason. Johnson has a legitimate shot of surviving the final round of cuts and earning a spot a rotational offensive lineman.
Jimmy Legree, Arizona Cardinals: Legree was not selected during the 2014 NFL Draft. After initially signing with the defending world champion Seattle Seahawks, Legree didn't survive mini-camp and was ultimately cut. Legree then signed with NFC West rival Arizona Cardinals and has survived the first round of cuts. Legree may not make it past the next round, but could become a viable practice squad player as he learns the pace of the NFL.
Victor Hampton, Cincinnati Bengals: Perhaps the biggest question mark of the 2014 NFL Draft, a series of offseason events ultimately led Hampton to go undrafted. After a lengthy period of time, Hampton was given a tryout by the Bengals and signed to a rookie contract. Hampton has his work cut out for him as he battles several vets for a role in the Cincinnati secondary.
We'll keep you posted as the NFL preseason rolls on and some of our favorite Gamecocks look to keep their dreams alive at the NFL level.