South Carolina EDGE Kyle Kennard selected in 2025 NFL Draft
The Los Angeles Chargers selected South Carolina EDGE Kyle Kennard with the No. 125 pick of the draft (23rd pick of 4th round). A day three selection, he was the fourth Gamecock taken, following Nick Emmanwori, TJ Sanders, and Demetrius Knight who all came off the board in the second round.
Kennard will join a Chargers team that utilizes EDGE rushers both as defensive ends and outside linebackers. The veteran pass rusher will look to beef up a unit that is looking to replace All-Pro Joey Bosa this offseason.
Before transferring to South Carolina, Kennard spent the previous four seasons at Georgia Tech. In his five-year career, he finished with 143 career tackles with 37.0 tackles for loss and 24.0 sacks. Now, he will look to continue terrorizing quarterbacks in the NFL.
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In one season with the Gamecocks, Kennard put up historical numbers, helping the defense become as good as it was in 2024. He started in all 12 regular-season games, opting out of the team’s bowl game, and logged 28 tackles, including 15.5 tackles for loss and 11.5 sacks. He had the fourth-best TFLs and the second-highest sack total in a single season in school history. He also forced three fumbles and recovered two.
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Kennard was South Carolina’s top defensive player this past season, but he was also one of the best defenders in college football. He led the SEC in both sacks and TFLs, tied for fourth in two separate categories: fumbles forced and fumbles recovered.
As a result of his successes, Kennard brought home several awards after the season ended. Most notably, he became South Carolina’s first-ever Bronko Nagurski Trophy winner.
Here’s a look at the full list of his awards from this past year:
*2024 Bronko Nagurski Trophy Winner
*2024 Lombardi Award Finalist
*2024 Blanchard-Rogers Trophy Winner
*2024 First-Team All-America (AFCA, Walter Camp, FWAA, SI.com, Reese’s Senior Bowl, Phil Steele)
*2024 Second-Team All-America (AP, Sporting News, CBS Sports, ESPN)
*2024 Third-Team All-America (College Football Nation)
*2024 First-Team Academic All-America
*2024 SEC Defensive Player of the Year (Coaches, AP)
*2024 SEC Defensive Lineman of the Year (College Football Live)
*2024 Joe Morrison MVP Defense
*2024 First-Team All-SEC (Coaches, AP, USA TODAY, Phil Steele)
*2024 Third-Team All-SEC (College Football Nation)
*2024 Blanchard-Rogers Trophy Finalist
*2024 SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll
*2024 South Carolina Spirit Award – Defense
