Pair of South Carolina Gamecocks make NFL Network's first round mock draft
NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah is one of the top NFL Draft analysts in the game. The former NFL scout has been a fixture during NFL Draft season for over a decade. Now, in what was his first mock draft since the underclassman deadline to declare, Jeremiah included two South Carolina football products in his projected first round.
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The two most common Gamecock picks for first-round grades are TJ Sanders and Nick Emmanwori. Analysts have called Sanders a potential first-round selection since the preseason. Emmanwori pushed his way into early consideration thanks, in part, to his All-American production this fall.
Jeremiah followed recent trends and listed Emmanwori as the first South Carolina star off the board. He listed the athletic safety as the No. 20 overall pick to the Denver Broncos. If taken in the first round, Emmanwori would be USC’s first safety taken that early in team history. Jeremiah compared Emmanwori to All-Pro Los Angeles Chargers safety Derwin James because of his size and coverage ability. The Columbia-area native led the Gamecocks in tackles and defensive touchdowns in 2024.
Then, with the penultimate pick of the first round, Jeremiah projected Sanders to go to the Philadelphia Eagles. At No. 31 overall, Sanders would be the Gamecocks’ first defensive tackle first-round pick since 2020 when Javon Kinlaw went 14th to the San Francisco 49ers. Jeremiah was really impressed by Sanders’ film and wrote that he thought the former Carolina star would fit in well in the Eagles’ loaded and versatile defensive line room. The Palmetto State product led USC’s defensive tackles in sacks and tackles for loss the past two seasons.
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Two other South Carolina football alums have picked up a little first-round buzz from other outlets.
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Linebacker Demetrius Knight earned a first-round grade from PFF earlier this week. However, most outlets view him as a third, fourth, or fifth-round pick. He has the size and athleticism to be a great pro.
EDGE Kyle Kennard is the other. While expected to come off the board in the second or third round, the Bronko Nagurski Trophy winner has snuck into a few first-round projections. He could play defensive end (4-3) or outside linebacker (3-4) at the NFL level.
Emmanwori, Sanders, Knight, and Kennard won’t be the only Gamecocks who hear their names called in April’s NFL Draft. South Carolina’s all-time record for selections in one draft is seven (done in both 2009 and 2013). They could challenge that number this spring.
The 2025 NFL Draft will take place from Thursday, April 24th until Saturday, April 26th. ABC, NFL Network, and the ESPN family of networks will cover the draft festivities.
