Kyle Kennard, Tonka Hemingway latest Gamecocks taken in NFL Draft
In the final day of the 2025 NFL Draft, a pair of South Carolina players heard their name called.
Coming into this draft, it seemed South Carolina had a chance of setting the program record for most draft picks in a single year — seven USC alums were taken in both the 2009 and 2013 drafts — but the Gamecocks finished with five players being selected and a number of others who have signed undrafted free agent deals.
And despite having no players taken in the first round this year, three Gamecocks were selected in the Top 50.
Safety Nick Emmanwori was the first USC player off the board, going 35th overall to the Seattle Seahawks.
Next was defensive tackle TJ Sanders, who was taken by the Buffalo Bills with the 41st pick.
And then, midway through the second round, the Cincinnati Bengals took linebacker Demetrius Knight with pick No. 49.
These Gamecocks joined them Saturday as official NFL Draft picks:
Kyle Kennard to Los Angeles Chargers
After putting together one of the best defensive seasons in South Carolina history, Kyle Kennard is headed to Los Angeles
The Chargers drafted the Gamecocks’ edge rusher in the fourth round (No. 125 pick overall) on Saturday.
In some ways, it’s a shock that Kennard fell that far after such a spectacular 2025 at South Carolina. After four decent years at Georgia Tech, Kennard transferred for his redshirt senior season, teamed up with five-star freshman Dylan Stewart and turned into one of the best pass rushers in America.
Kennard nearly broke Jadeveon Clowney’s school records at USC but fell short, finishing the year with 11.5 sacks 15.5 tackles for loss and three forced fumbles while becoming a first-team All-American. Even at 6-foot-5, 238 pounds, Kennard shot off the line like a rocket and routinely put SEC tackles on their heels.
In December, at a banquet in Charlotte, Kennard won the Bronco Nagurski Award, given to the top defensive player in the nation. What’s interesting is the three finalists that Kennard beat out that night — Penn State DL Abdul Carter (No. 3 overall), Michigan DT Mason Graham (No. 5) and Texas DB Jahdae Barron (No. 20) — were all first-round picks.
Meanwhile, Kennard fell to day three.
Despite Kennard’s impressive stats last year at South Carolina, it seems some NFL teams were skeptical about how well his production would transfer to the next level. While crediting Kennard’s ability as a playmaker and getting around the edge, NFL.com analyst Lance Zierlein had some critiques of the former USC edge.
“He is frequently knocked off-balance at contact points,” Zierlein wrote. “He will create pressure with his get-off and length alone but needs less-predictable rush patterns and more hand skill to beat NFL tackles.”
All of which means Kennard will head into the NFL the same way he arrived in Columbia: under the radar. And, well, it worked out just fine at South Carolina.
Tonka Hemingway to Las Vegas Raiders
The Conway native is headed to Las Vegas after the Raiders selected the defensive tackle in the fourth round with the 135th-overall pick.
Hemingway is NFL bound after a solid five-year career at South Carolina in which he totaled 112 tackles, 17.5 tackles for loss and nearly 10 sacks.
A former four-star prospect, Hemingway began his USC career under coach Will Muschamp and stayed a Gamecock when Shane Beamer took over the program. After two decent seasons, he turned into a starter in 2022 and has been a mainstay in the trenches for the past three seasons.
Rocket Sanders signs UDFA deal with Los Angeles Chargers
After a solid one season with South Carolina, Sanders was not drafted but signed an undrafted free agent contract with the Los Angeles Chargers, per Gamecock Central’s Mike Uva.
After transferring to Arkansas to South Carolina last winter, the 6-foot-2, 242-pound tailback rushed for 881 yards and 11 touchdowns despite missing the majority of two games with an injury.
And, well, injuries are likely part of the reason Sanders fell so far. As a sophomore in 2022, he rushed for over 1,400 yards but encountered setbacks in the next season, missing time with a knee injury and then hurting his shoulder towards the end of the season.
But when healthy, Sanders has proven he can be a top running back.
Joshua Simon signs UDFA deal with Atlanta Falcons
South Carolina’s best pass catcher from 2024 signed an UDFA contract with the Atlanta Falcons, according to reporter Aaron Wilson.
Simon, a 6-foot-4, 259-pound tight end, became quarterback LaNorris Sellers’ favorite target last season, catching 40 passes for 519 yards and 7 touchdowns — all team highs.
The 24-year-old Dalzell native started his college career at Western Kentucky, catching 86 balls for the Hilltoppers over four seasons before transferring to South Carolina. He was the No. 2 tight end behind Trey Knox in 2023 but became the starter last year and elevated his game.
Kai Kroeger earns a pair of camp invites
One of the best punters in South Carolina history has secured invites to mini camp with the Philadelphia Eagles and Tennessee Titans, according to Kohl’s Kicking Camps. Uva added that Kroeger also has invites from the Chicago Bears and Carolina Panthers.
Kroeger, an Illinois native, was a rare five-year starter, booting 265 punts in his college career that traveled nearly 12,000 yards (44.6 yards per punt).
Though his top average came this past season (47.8 ypp), Kroeger will be remembered for what he did in 2022 at South Carolina, when half of his punts landed within the 20-yard line.
That included a magical performance in a win over Clemson, when five of Kroeger’s seven punts landed inside the 10 and tit felt like the USC punter was as impactful in the upset as anyone.
OTHER UDFA SIGNINGS
- Linebacker Bam Martin-Scott signed a deal with the Carolina Panthers.
- Per his Instagram, offensive lineman Torricelli Simpkins III signed with the New Orleans Saints.
- Defensive tackle Alex “Boogie” Huntley — a Hammond alum — is signing an UDFA deal with the Miami Dolphins, per a source.
This story was originally published April 26, 2025 at 1:22 PM.
