Best NFL players born in South Carolina
Football has long been woven into the cultural fabric of America, and every state has produced its share of gridiron legends. From Hall of Fame quarterbacks to record-setting receivers and defensive stalwarts, some of the NFL's greatest talents trace their roots back to South Carolina.
Using data from Pro Football Reference, Stacker compiled a ranking of the best NFL players born in South Carolina. Players were ranked by weighted career approximate value (AV), a metric developed by Pro Football Reference that measures overall career impact. Data is as of the start of the 2025 NFL season.
This list highlights players who made their mark on the league—some remembered for their longevity, others for their peak dominance. Read on to see which football stars born in South Carolina have left the biggest legacy in NFL history.
#50. Deebo Samuel (WR)
- City: Inman
- Years played: 2019-2024 (5 years as starter)
- Games played: 81
- Pro Bowl selections: 1
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 1
- Weighted career value: 47
#48. Alshon Jeffery (WR) (tie)
- City: St. Matthews
- Years played: 2012-2020 (8 years as starter)
- Games played: 109
- Pro Bowl selections: 1
- Weighted career value: 48
#48. William Perry (DT) (tie)
- City: Aiken
- Years played: 1985-1994 (9 years as starter)
- Games played: 138
- Weighted career value: 48
#47. Dwayne Harper (DB)
- City: Orangeburg
- Years played: 1988-1999 (9 years as starter)
- Games played: 148
- Weighted career value: 49
#46. Ed McDaniel (LB)
- City: Batesburg
- Years played: 1992-2001 (7 years as starter)
- Games played: 125
- Pro Bowl selections: 1
- Weighted career value: 51
#45. Donnie Abraham (DB)
- City: Orangeburg
- Years played: 1996-2004 (7 years as starter)
- Games played: 132
- Pro Bowl selections: 1
- Weighted career value: 52
#44. George Webster (LB)
- City: Anderson
- Years played: 1967-1976 (6 years as starter)
- Games played: 119
- Pro Bowl selections: 3
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 3
- Weighted career value: 53
#42. Bob Jeter (DB) (tie)
- City: Union
- Years played: 1963-1973 (5 years as starter)
- Games played: 139
- Pro Bowl selections: 2
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 1
- Weighted career value: 54
#42. Bobby Engram (WR) (tie)
- City: Camden
- Years played: 1996-2009 (7 years as starter)
- Games played: 176
- Weighted career value: 54
#40. Albert Haynesworth (DT) (tie)
- City: Hartsville
- Years played: 2002-2011 (7 years as starter)
- Games played: 123
- Pro Bowl selections: 2
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 2
- Weighted career value: 55
#40. Sheldon Brown (DB) (tie)
- City: Lancaster
- Years played: 2002-2012 (9 years as starter)
- Games played: 175
- Weighted career value: 55
#38. Stephen Davis (RB) (tie)
- City: Spartanburg
- Years played: 1996-2006 (6 years as starter)
- Games played: 143
- Pro Bowl selections: 3
- Weighted career value: 56
#38. Troy Brown (WR) (tie)
- City: Barnwell
- Years played: 1993-2007 (5 years as starter)
- Games played: 192
- Pro Bowl selections: 1
- Weighted career value: 56
#35. Freddie Solomon (WR) (tie)
- City: Sumter
- Years played: 1975-1985 (10 years as starter)
- Games played: 151
- Weighted career value: 58
#35. George Martin (DE) (tie)
- City: Greenville
- Years played: 1975-1988 (7 years as starter)
- Games played: 201
- Weighted career value: 58
#35. Jim Youngblood (LLB) (tie)
- City: Union
- Years played: 1973-1984 (7 years as starter)
- Games played: 156
- Pro Bowl selections: 1
- Weighted career value: 58
#32. Eddie Edwards (DE) (tie)
- City: Sumter
- Years played: 1977-1988 (11 years as starter)
- Games played: 170
- Weighted career value: 59
#32. Jonathan Goodwin (G) (tie)
- City: Columbia
- Years played: 2002-2014 (8 years as starter)
- Games played: 195
- Pro Bowl selections: 1
- Weighted career value: 59
#32. Peter Boulware (LB) (tie)
- City: Columbia
- Years played: 1997-2005 (7 years as starter)
- Games played: 126
- Pro Bowl selections: 4
- Weighted career value: 59
#31. Shaquille Leonard (OLB)
- City: Nichols
- Years played: 2018-2023 (5 years as starter)
- Games played: 75
- Pro Bowl selections: 3
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 3
- Weighted career value: 60
#30. Jadeveon Clowney (DE)
- City: Rock Hill
- Years played: 2014-2024 (10 years as starter)
- Games played: 140
- Pro Bowl selections: 3
- Weighted career value: 62
#29. Vonnie Holliday (DE)
- City: Camden
- Years played: 1998-2012 (9 years as starter)
- Games played: 214
- Weighted career value: 63
#27. Dexter Coakley (LB) (tie)
- City: Charleston
- Years played: 1997-2006 (9 years as starter)
- Games played: 155
- Pro Bowl selections: 3
- Weighted career value: 65
#27. Jimmy Orr (FL) (tie)
- City: Seneca
- Years played: 1958-1970 (10 years as starter)
- Games played: 149
- Pro Bowl selections: 2
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 1
- Weighted career value: 65
#25. Robert Porcher (DE) (tie)
- City: Wando
- Years played: 1992-2003 (10 years as starter)
- Games played: 187
- Pro Bowl selections: 3
- Weighted career value: 66
#25. Tom Addison (LB) (tie)
- City: Lancaster
- Years played: 1960-1967 (8 years as starter)
- Games played: 106
- Pro Bowl selections: 4
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 1
- Weighted career value: 66
#23. Carlos Dunlap (DE) (tie)
- City: North Charleston
- Years played: 2010-2022 (7 years as starter)
- Games played: 197
- Pro Bowl selections: 2
- Weighted career value: 67
#23. Johnathan Joseph (DB) (tie)
- City: Rock Hill
- Years played: 2006-2020 (15 years as starter)
- Games played: 211
- Pro Bowl selections: 2
- Weighted career value: 67
#22. DeMarcus Lawrence (DE)
- City: Aiken
- Years played: 2014-2024 (7 years as starter)
- Games played: 141
- Pro Bowl selections: 4
- Weighted career value: 68
#20. Barney Chavous (DE) (tie)
- City: Aiken
- Years played: 1973-1985 (13 years as starter)
- Games played: 183
- Weighted career value: 69
#20. Robert Quinn (DE) (tie)
- City: Ladson
- Years played: 2011-2022 (9 years as starter)
- Games played: 169
- Pro Bowl selections: 3
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 1
- Weighted career value: 69
#19. Shaun Ellis (DE)
- City: Anderson
- Years played: 2000-2011 (11 years as starter)
- Games played: 184
- Pro Bowl selections: 2
- Weighted career value: 70
#18. Brad Hopkins (T)
- City: Columbia
- Years played: 1993-2005 (13 years as starter)
- Games played: 194
- Pro Bowl selections: 2
- Weighted career value: 71
#17. Lawrence Timmons (RILB)
- City: Florence
- Years played: 2007-2017 (9 years as starter)
- Games played: 172
- Pro Bowl selections: 1
- Weighted career value: 72
#16. John Gilliam (WR)
- City: Greenwood
- Years played: 1967-1977 (9 years as starter)
- Games played: 151
- Pro Bowl selections: 4
- Weighted career value: 73
#15. Stephon Gilmore (CB)
- City: Rock Hill
- Years played: 2012-2024 (12 years as starter)
- Games played: 180
- Pro Bowl selections: 5
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 2
- Weighted career value: 75
#14. A.J. Green (WR)
- City: Summerville
- Years played: 2011-2022 (10 years as starter)
- Games played: 158
- Pro Bowl selections: 7
- Weighted career value: 77
#13. Levon Kirkland (LB)
- City: Lamar
- Years played: 1992-2002 (10 years as starter)
- Games played: 176
- Pro Bowl selections: 2
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 1
- Weighted career value: 80
#12. Bill Thompson (DB)
- City: Greenville
- Years played: 1969-1981 (12 years as starter)
- Games played: 179
- Pro Bowl selections: 3
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 1
- Weighted career value: 81
#11. DeAndre Hopkins (WR)
- City: Central
- Years played: 2013-2024 (10 years as starter)
- Games played: 178
- Pro Bowl selections: 5
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 3
- Weighted career value: 82
#9. Michael Dean Perry (DT) (tie)
- City: Aiken
- Years played: 1988-1997 (9 years as starter)
- Games played: 148
- Pro Bowl selections: 6
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 2
- Weighted career value: 83
#9. Stanley Morgan (WR) (tie)
- City: Easley
- Years played: 1977-1990 (13 years as starter)
- Games played: 196
- Pro Bowl selections: 4
- Weighted career value: 83
#7. Jake Scott (DB) (tie)
- City: Greenwood
- Years played: 1970-1978 (9 years as starter)
- Games played: 126
- Pro Bowl selections: 5
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 2
- Weighted career value: 88
#7. Roddy White (WR) (tie)
- City: James Island
- Years played: 2005-2015 (10 years as starter)
- Games played: 171
- Pro Bowl selections: 4
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 1
- Weighted career value: 88
#6. Clyde Simmons (DE)
- City: Lanes
- Years played: 1986-2000 (12 years as starter)
- Games played: 236
- Pro Bowl selections: 2
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 2
- Weighted career value: 89
#3. Donnie Shell (DB) (tie)
- City: Whitmire
- Years played: 1974-1987 (11 years as starter)
- Games played: 201
- Pro Bowl selections: 5
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 3
- Weighted career value: 91
#3. John Abraham (DE) (tie)
- City: Timmonsville
- Years played: 2000-2014 (11 years as starter)
- Games played: 192
- Pro Bowl selections: 5
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 2
- Weighted career value: 91
#3. Richard Seymour (DE) (tie)
- City: Gadsden
- Years played: 2001-2012 (11 years as starter)
- Games played: 164
- Pro Bowl selections: 7
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 3
- Weighted career value: 91
#2. Art Shell (T)
- City: Charleston
- Years played: 1968-1982 (12 years as starter)
- Games played: 207
- Pro Bowl selections: 8
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 2
- Weighted career value: 93
#1. Harry Carson (LB)
- City: Florence
- Years played: 1976-1988 (13 years as starter)
- Games played: 173
- Pro Bowl selections: 9
- Weighted career value: 95
