South Carolina football coach Shane Beamer lauds player work ethic, USC development ahead of NFL Combine

On Tuesday, South Carolina football coach Shane Beamer joined 107.5 The Game’s Jay Phillips and Elijah Campbell on The Postgame Show. The Gamecock headman had plenty of things to discuss with Phillips and Campbell, but he spent a lot of time talking about his team’s NFL development.

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Beamer told the 107.5 hosts that it’s “really cool” that the Gamecocks are sending 11 players to the NFL Combine but that credit for the achievement starts with the players themselves. “First, credit to them and the way they worked when they were here,” said Beamer. “We’re really, really proud of what our guys have accomplished.”

Though he credited his players, Beamer made sure to take a moment to reflect on how well his USC program has helped prepare players for the next level. After talking briefly about 2024 NFL Draft selections Xavier Legette (first round to the Carolina Panthers) and Marcellas Dial (sixth round to the New England Patriots), Beamer turned his attention to 2025.

“And to now have 11 guys at the NFL Combine, along with others who aren’t at the Combine but will still get opportunities with NFL teams, that’s what it’s all about,” Beamer declared.

“And to have so many other guys getting that opportunity this year, whether they came here out of high school and developed—like TJ Sanders, Tonka Hemingway, and Boogie Huntley—or were only here for one year–like Kyle Kennard, Rocket Sanders, and D Knight–I’m just so happy for all of them.” He added, “I’m so proud that we were able to help them chase their dreams here.”

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As the USC boss alluded to in his statement, the Gamecocks have developed a variety of players at the combine. Some are home-grown talents, while others are transfer portal additions who could hear their names called this April.

Players like Nick Emmanwori, TJ Sanders, O’Donnell Fortune, and Tonka Hemingway signed with the Gamecocks out of high school. All four have featured on many NFL Draft mocks. Players like Kennard, Knight, and Rocket Sanders expect to go in the draft despite spending just one year in Columbia. Still others–like Bam Martin-Scott and Debo Williams–transferred in years ago and have late-round hopes this spring.

Those nine players aren’t the only ones with chances to wind up drafted, either.

South Carolina has more than 15 players with realistic NFL hopes this offseason. 11 (or 12 if one counts punter Kai Kroeger’s invitation to the NFL Combine Specialist Showcase) will be in Indianapolis this week for the NFL Combine. Several others have professional scouts’ eyes, too.

The South Carolina football record for NFL Draft selections is seven. The Gamecocks saw seven players taken in the draft in both 2009 and 2013. The 2025 draft is poised to challenge that record.

Based on mock drafts and big boards, Emmanwori, TJ Sanders, Kennard, Knight, Rocket Sanders, and Fortune are locks for selection. Hemingway and Simon have been somewhat popular names late in the draft, too. Martin-Scott, Kroeger, DeAndre Jules, and Torricelli Simpkins will work to improve their stocks at the combine this week, too. Players like Williams and Huntley also could make things interesting with solid showings at South Carolina’s pro day in March.

The USC staff’s ability to develop players both from the high school ranks and from the transfer portal gives the team a nice sales pitch in recruiting. The Gamecock alum’s performances at the NFL Combine (and subsequent draft positions) will only help those efforts.

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This year’s NFL Combine is underway. Fans can tune in to watch NFL Network and NFL.com’s coverage of the combine starting on Thursday. GamecockCentral also will keep fans up to date on the latest happenings in Indianapolis. Follow along at our NFL Combine Headquarters!

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