'One of the best decision I ever made': Kyle Kennard reflects on his decision to come to South Carolina
On Saturday, South Carolina brought home the Palmetto Bowl trophy with a road win against the rival Clemson Tigers. For the second opportunity in a row (2022 being the previous), the Gamecocks beat the Tigers in Memorial Stadium to secure a great finish to the regular season. With the win, this year’s 9-3 USC squad is on the bubble for the College Football Playoff.
There were some similarities between the end of the 2022 and 2024 campaigns. The Gamecock team that whipped top-10 Tennessee and top-10 Clemson two years ago relied on stellar quarterback play down the stretch and secured a win in the finale with a late-game turnover. Both of those things also happened this fall.
One major difference between those teams, though, was the defense. The most obvious way that manifested was in the differences between the two team’s pass rush units. Back in 2022, South Carolina had just 20 total sacks in 13 games. Through just 12 contests in 2024, the Gamecocks have doubled that number. The top disruptor for South Carolina has been transfer portal addition Kyle Kennard.
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Last offseason, the Gamecock coaching staff made Kennard a transfer portal priority, and they got their man. The former Georgia Tech Yellow Jacket made the decision to transfer to the University of South Carolina and upgraded the USC defense immediately.
As the 2024 regular season has come to a close, Kennard took to social media to reflect on his decision.
Kennard called his move to Columbia “one of the best decisions I ever made.” The thoughts echo what he told GamecockCentral recently: “It’s been nothing short of a blessing.”
Frankly, when one looks at what Kennard has accomplished this season, it’s clear he meant what he said.
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Statistically, Kennard had 12.5 sacks over four seasons at Georgia Tech; four of them came in one game. This year, No. 5 has 11.5 quarterback takedowns in 12 games. He also has logged 16 tackles for loss. Both of those numbers lead the SEC and rank in the top 10 nationally. With a bowl or potential College Football Playoff remaining, Kennard is just 1.5 sacks short of Jadeveon Clowney’s South Carolina football record.
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From a career trajectory standpoint, Kennard’s transfer helped him move from an NFL Draft afterthought to a can’t-miss prospect. Most NFL Draft analysts viewed Kennard as a late-round or even undrafted player ahead of the 2024 season. Now, he has seen himself mocked as high as the first round and feels like a sure-fire top-100 selection in the 2025 NFL Draft.
He’s also experienced more team success with the Gamecocks. With three losing seasons, one 7-6 campaign, and zero SEC-ACC rivalry game victories during four years in Atlanta, the shift to 9-3, the College Football Playoff bubble, and a big rivalry win has been stark.
Despite being in his first year with the program, Kennard also has been a leader for his new team. He has been a defensive captain, a loud voice in the EDGE room, and a mentor to Dylan Stewart. He’s even made an impact in the community as he passed out food to those in need ahead of Thanksgiving.
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It’s safe to say that while Kennard’s transfer might have been one of the best decisions he ever made, it also was one of the best decisions South Carolina football has made, too.
There is still a chance Kennard and the Gamecocks could find their way into the first 12-team College Football Playoff. However, because of Conference Championship Week, all USC can do now is wait. The next CFP Rankings show will be on Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. on ESPN. Then, the CFP Selection Sunday show will be on December 8th on ESPN from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
