From Snubbed to Starter: Brandon Cisse's NFL Journey

0:00On March 18, South Carolina cornerback Brandon Sissy is one draft month away from hearing his name called, possibly in the first round. The local kid from Sumter followed a path to the pros that started right at home with the Gamecocks, but it took some detours to get there. Back in high school, the Gamecocks passed on him because he was too scrawny, so Sissy headed to North Carolina State instead. There, he bolted up in college weights, earned playing time as a true freshman, and became a starter by his second year. Family ties pulled him back to South Carolina after some staff changes at NC State prompted his transfer. His dad went to school there, and he'd been around the program since he was little, making it feel like home even on a delayed timeline. In his only season with the Gamecocks in 2025, Sissy started all 13 games at corner, switched to Nichol seamlessly, and stood out. As a reliable tackler, most of the time, Mott drafts now love him for his sharp football instincts, home since early childhood.

1:00That chip on his shoulder from the early snub keeps fueling him, setting him up nicely whether he goes early on draft night or keeps proving doubters. Wrong.