The Patriots added to their cornerback room in the sixth round of the NFL Draft, selecting South Carolina’s Marcellas Dial with the 180th overall pick Saturday.

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A 5-foot-11, 190-pounder, Dial was a three-year starter for the Gamecocks. He posted 31 pass breakups and three interceptions over his career. He’s an outside corner with reputed man-to-man coverage skills and good speed. Dial played some safety and special teams in college and turns 24 later this year.

“I’m a sticky corner in coverage,” Dial told reporters after his selection.

At the NFL Scouting Combine, he clocked a 4.46 in the 40-yard dash, but a slow 7.29 in the 3-cone; a reflection of below-average quickness. Dial also leapt more than 40 inches in the vertical jump, showing an ability to contest high-arching passes.

Dial said he impressed the Patriots with his football IQ during a pre-draft visit to Foxboro, where he also connected with veteran receiver Kendrick Bourne. He will likely have an uphill battle to a roster spot later this summer.

For now, he joins Christian Gonzalez, Jonathan Jones, Marcus Jones, Alex Austin and Shaun Wade, among others, on the Patriots’ cornerback depth chart.