The 2025 NFL Draft kicks off at 8 PM ET on Thursday in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Several South Carolina Gamecocks are expected to be selected throughout the weekend, and the program is on track to potentially break an NFL Draft record with the number of prospects it has this year.
South Carolina boasts a strong group of defensive prospects set to be drafted this year. Leading the way is safety Nick Emmanwori, with fellow defenders TJ Sanders, Kyle Kennard, and Demetrius Knight also projected to go within the first two rounds. That gives the Gamecocks four potential defensive selections—something the program hasn’t achieved since 2012, when Stephon Gilmore, Melvin Ingram, Antonio Allen, and Travian Robertson were drafted. Before that, the last time South Carolina had four or more defensive players drafted in a single class was in 2002.
Things are looking even more promising for South Carolina. The program’s record for most players drafted in a single year is nine, set back in 1954. With 14 draft-eligible prospects in this year’s class, there’s a strong chance the Gamecocks could set a new all-time record in 2025.