USC Gamecocks Football

Rocket Sanders, Nick Emmanwori among 11 Gamecocks invited to 2025 NFL Combine

South Carolina’s Raheim Sanders (5) rushes for a touchdown against Oklahoma on Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024, at Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Okla.
South Carolina’s Raheim Sanders (5) rushes for a touchdown against Oklahoma on Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024, at Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Okla. Special to The State

The 2025 NFL Combine is later this month in Indianapolis, and the list of 329 total prospects who earned an invite was unveiled Thursday.

Of those players, 11 are from South Carolina and six are from Clemson.

The 11 players from South Carolina this year is more than double that of Gamecock invites to the combine in any year since 2013. The record for most Gamecocks taken in the NFL Draft was set in 1954 when nine players from South Carolina were taken in the 30 round draft.

The combine will take place from Feb. 24 through March 3, and coverage can be found on NFL Network and NFL+ from Feb. 27 through March 23.

South Carolina running back Raheim “Rocket” Sanders and defensive back Nick Emmanwori are among the headliners of the group of Gamecocks making the trip to Indianapolis.

Sanders ran for 881 yards and 11 touchdowns during his lone year in South Carolina and was named the 2024 Comeback Player of the Year Award, by the College Sports Communicators and The Associated Press. Emmanwori was an All-American during his time in Columbia and finished his career with 244 tackles, 17 pass deflections and six interceptions.

Absent from the list of combine invitees is South Carolina punter Kai Kroeger, though a report from earlier this month noted that the Gamecocks’ All-American punter had been invited.

South Carolina’s Nick Emmanwori celebrates after returning an interception for a touchdown in the first quarter against Oklahoma, Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024, at Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Okla.
South Carolina’s Nick Emmanwori celebrates after returning an interception for a touchdown in the first quarter against Oklahoma, Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024, at Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Okla. Nate Billings Special to The State

Gamecocks in the NFL Combine

  • RB Raheim “Rocket” Sanders
  • TE Joshua Simon
  • OL Torricelli Simpkins III

  • DL Tonka Hemingway

  • DL DeAndre Jules

  • DL Kyle Kennard

  • DL T.J. Sanders

  • LB Demetrius Knight Jr.

  • LB Bam Martin-Scott

  • DB Nick Emmanwori

  • DB O’Donnell Fortune

Clemson Tigers running back Phil Mafah (7) runs the ball against Pittsburgh Panthers linebacker Kyle Louis (9) during the first quarter at Acrisure Stadium.
Clemson Tigers running back Phil Mafah (7) runs the ball against Pittsburgh Panthers linebacker Kyle Louis (9) during the first quarter at Acrisure Stadium. Charles LeClaire Imagn Images

Tigers in the NFL combine

  • RB Phil Mafah

  • TE Jake Briningstool

  • OL Marcus Tate

  • DL Payton Page

  • LB Barrett Carter

  • DB R.J. Mickens

This story was originally published February 13, 2025 at 11:39 AM.

Michael Sauls
The State
Michael Sauls is The State’s South Carolina women’s basketball reporter. He previously worked at The Virginian-Pilot covering Norfolk State and Hampton University sports. A Columbia native, he is an alum of the University of South Carolina.
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