In the 2024 NFL Draft, four players from South Carolina were chosen. Wide receiver Xavier Legette was selected by the Carolina Panthers in the 1st round, quarterback Spencer Rattler was drafted by the New Orleans Saints in the 5th round, defensive back Marcellas Dial was picked by the New England Patriots in the 6th round, and offensive lineman Nick Gargiulo was chosen by the Denver Broncos in the 7th round.
Legette, Rattler, and Dial all made their respective teams’ 53-man rosters after the preseason. However, Gargiulo was waived by the Broncos on Tuesday due to roster limits. Fortunately, he was quickly re-signed to Denver’s practice squad the following day, according to Mike Kils from 9News in Denver.
Gargiulo joins fellow Gamecock rookie Dante “Turbo” Miller as a player who was cut but swiftly brought back onto a practice squad. As one of the last picks in the 2024 draft, Gargiulo faced a tough path to making the Broncos’ roster. Despite some preseason injuries, he demonstrated enough value to the team to remain involved this season.
With the Broncos, Gargiulo will add depth across all offensive line positions, particularly at guard and center. His college experience included playing center, guard, and tackle, with the majority of his snaps at center. Due to NFL roster limitations, teams can’t keep a large number of backup linemen active, but Gargiulo’s versatility makes him a prime candidate to be called up from the practice squad if needed.
Before joining South Carolina, Gargiulo spent four years at Yale, where he was a team captain and a reliable presence on the offensive line. During his time with the Gamecocks, he played through injuries but started every game in 2023, alternating between guard and center.
