South Carolina football fans are in for an exciting NFL Draft weekend at the end of the month. The Gamecock Faithful will want to tune in to the entire draft, as USC is on track to potentially set a new program record for total players selected. (The current record is seven, achieved in both 2009 and 2013.)
In Tankathon’s latest three-round mock draft, four Gamecocks are projected to be picked in the top 100.
First, safety Nick Emmanwori continues to receive first-round projections. According to Tankathon’s update, the All-American Gamecock could be chosen at pick No. 24 by the Minnesota Vikings. Future Hall of Fame safety Harrison Smith is in Minnesota but is nearing the end of his career.
Tankathon also predicts that defensive lineman TJ Sanders will be the second South Carolina player drafted. The outlet has the Kansas City Chiefs selecting the All-SEC defensive tackle with pick No. 63. If he is chosen at this late second-round spot, he would reunite with former USC teammate Darius Rush on the Chiefs.
Linebacker Demetrius Knight is the third Gamecock in Tankathon’s mock three-round draft. If their prediction holds true, he would be picked at No. 74. This pick belongs to the Carolina Panthers, meaning Knight wouldn’t have to travel far to begin his professional career. The Panthers will also feature former Gamecocks Jadeveon Clowney, Jaycee Horn, DJ Wonnum, Xavier Legette, and Rico Dowdle in 2025.
EDGE Kyle Kennard is also included in the mock draft, slotted at No. 86 to the Los Angeles Chargers. The Nagurski Trophy winner had a stellar final season at Carolina, and if he ends up with the Chargers, his success could continue. Their hybrid 3-4 defense would likely position Kennard as a pass-rushing outside linebacker.
With four additional rounds and many NFL hopefuls declaring from USC, the Gamecocks are expected to have between six and ten players selected in this year’s draft.
The 2025 NFL Draft will be held from April 24th to April 26th in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The three-day event will be broadcast on NFL Network, ABC, and the ESPN family of networks. The ESPN app and NFL.com will also stream the event.
Thursday’s opening night will feature only round one of the draft. Friday will cover rounds two and three, and Saturday will wrap up the draft with rounds four through seven.
