Brandon, Cedric Cisse bring new brotherly connection to South Carolina secondary

Everybody knows about the offensive brothers of LaNorris and Jayden Sellers or the defensive back duo of Gerald and Jalon Kilgore at South Carolina. However, there is another pair of brothers suiting up for the Gamecocks for the first time in 2025.

Cornerback Brandon Cisse transferred to South Carolina from North Carolina State during the offseason. Five months later, in May, his younger brother, safety Cedric Cisse, joined as a preferred walk-on. The duo grew up in Sumter, attending and playing for Lakewood High School under Larry Cornelius and former Gamecock Willie Offord, respectively.

“It’s been great,” Brandon Cisse told GamecockCentral. “… We’ve shared a room since I was a little kid.”

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Brandon joins the program after spending two seasons in Raleigh, North Carolina. Over his two years with the Wolfpack, the junior played in 22 total games, including all 13 in 2023. He totaled 28 tackles in nine appearances during his sophomore season in 2024.

“There’s a lot of differences, but there’s a lot of similarities also. That’s probably (how it’s) gonna be (at) any organization you switch to,” Brandon said on transitioning to the SEC. “Just trying to make sure you’re doing things the right way and how they do things here. So that’s the main thing.”

Brandon’s younger brother Cedric, however, is making the jump from high school to college. Having joined the program after the spring, summer workouts were his first exposure to the next level.

Cedric, like his older brother, played both wide receiver and defensive back for Lakewood. In his senior season, he recorded 32 tackles with four interceptions.

“It’s been good. It’s different than high school, but it’s a good adjustment,” Cedric said. “Getting bigger, faster, stronger, being developed.”

Having his older brother around helps Cedric as he navigates his first year in college football.

“It’s good having him there. It shows me really how to move as a collegiate football player,” Cedric said. “… But like learning scheme-wise, he’s always there and showing you how to eat and stuff like that.”

Brandon said he wants to make sure he is there for his brother in any case he needs him to be.

“He knows I’m here if he ever needs anything, and I’m always gonna be his biggest support as if he was myself,” Brandon said.

Brandon’s commitment to the Gamecocks was big news when he decided to commit out of the transfer portal in January. However, Cedric’s commitment flew under the radar.

“I would say he’s tenacious, I would say he’s a little risk-taker,” Brandon said. “He likes to take chances on the ball, which I like about his game. He’s got an elite skillset also, so hopefully one day you guys can hear about his name how people talk about mine.”

For Cedric, it was difficult to pinpoint just one aspect of his older brother’s game that stood out.

“If I could take one thing from him, it’s his instinct,” Cedric said. “Being able to break on certain routes and stuff like that. He’s really talented with that, and he has a good instinct to play that position as a corner.”

When you grow up sharing a room, you begin to develop similar habits, Cedric said.

“Like I wake up and he’s right across from me,” he added. “It’s really just building that real relationship. It’s a real brotherhood that we have. We look out for each other, we love each other.”

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