USC CB Brandon Cisse reportedly will leave school early to declare for the NFL Draft

South Carolina cornerback Brandon Cisse is reportedly leaving school early and will declare for the 2026 NFL Draft.

South Carolina star cornerback Brandon Cisse is leaving school early to declare for the NFL draft, he told ESPN. ESPN’s @FieldYates projected him as the No. 29 overall pick in his most recent mock draft. “I’m excited to fulfill my lifelong dream," Cisse told ESPN. pic.twitter.com/JFXLLG8MFA

— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) December 11, 2025

“I loved my experience here,” Cisse told ESPN of his time at USC. “I think it was the best decision I made for my college experience. It was great to live out a lifelong dream to come play here.” Cisse, who is from Sumter and attended Lakewood High School, started his college career at N.C. State. He played in 22 games across two years, totaled 38 tackles and had one interception.

Cisse recorded 27 tackles in 12 games with South Carolina in 2025. He had one interception and tied his career high with five pass selections. His Pro Football Focus grade for run defense (87.8) was the best on the team. Cisse’s PFF grades for overall defense (72.6) and coverage (68.3) were both No. 6 on the team.