South Carolina’s football season ended less than a week ago with a loss to the Illinois Fighting Illini in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl. Before fans transition completely to thinking about the fall of 2025, the Gamecocks could see themselves with a large representation at this April’s NFL Draft.
In fact, three South Carolina football alums are projected to be high selections.
In Tankathon’s latest three-round NFL Draft mock, the outlet featured Nick Emmanwori, TJ Sanders, and Kyle Kennard. Though Emmanwori and Sanders have another year of eligibility, both juniors have declared for the draft with the senior, Kennard.
A slight deviation from most other mock drafts, Tankathon included Nick Emmanwori as their first Gamecock off the board. The All-American safety slots in at No. 39 overall (round 2, pick 7) to the New York Jets. As one of the best defensive backs in program history, the Columbia-area native has the physical size and athleticism to become an elite professional, as well. Emmanwori has earned some first round projections, too.
Tankathon’s second USC alum mocked is defensive lineman TJ Sanders. Sanders, another Palmetto State native, is No. 54 overall (round 2, pick 22) to the Houston Texans. An athletic defensive tackle who can kick out to end in certain situations, Sanders was an All-SEC performer. The big fella has received the top grade among former Gamecocks in most mock drafts, including many at the back end of the first round.
Next off the Tankathon board is Kyle Kennard. Tankathon predicts the consensus All-American at No. 56 (round 2, pick 24) to the Green Bay Packers. Kennard spent just one year in garnet and black following a transfer from Georgia Tech, but he turned in the second-best pass rush season in South Carolina football history. In addition to his All-American accolades, he also won the Bronko Nagurski Trophy as the nation’s top defensive player. A few outlets have projected Kennard as high as the first round.
There will be other Gamecocks selected in this year’s NFL Draft. Players like Rocket Sanders, Demetrius Knight, Josh Simon, and O’Donnell Fortune are likely picks. Others like Debo Williams, Torricelli Simpkins, Vershon Lee, DeAndre Jules, Gage Larvadain, Dalevon Campbell, and Kai Kroeger have declared for the draft and/or will play in a postseason all-star game. Still others like Tonka Hemingway, Boogie Huntley, and Hunter Rogers could earn an NFL shot, too. Linebacker Bam Martin-Scott also could be an NFL prospect, pending the NCAA’s handling of former junior college players.
The NFL Draft will take place from April 24th to April 26th. ABC, the ESPN family of networks, and NFL Network will broadcast the festivities, while the ESPN app will stream them.
GamecockCentral’s transfer portal tracker will provide a snapshot of all the South Carolina players who have entered the portal, announced their intentions to do so, or that sources have indicated those intentions.
We will also use it to track players from other schools who have committed to the Gamecocks from the portal.
