South Carolina 2025 NFL Draft prospects: An early look at where Gamecocks may land

Lulu Kesin , Greenville News

COLUMBIA — In the 2024 NFL draft, four South Carolina football players were selected.

On Thursday, wide receiver Xavier Legette was selected in the first round with the No. 32 pick by the Carolina Panthers. On Saturday, Spencer Rattler was picked No. 150 by the New Orleans Saints and the New England Patriots took Marcellas Dial with pick No. 180. The final pick for the Gamecocks was Nick Gargiulo who went No. 256 to the Denver Broncos.

South Carolina 2025 NFL Draft prospects

Even with the departure of Rattler, the vacancy downfield with Legette at wide receiver, coach Shane Beamer for the 2024 season. Given the talent that remains on the roster, its likely the Gamecocks will see more success in next year's NFL draft.

Here is an early look at potential 2025 NFL draft picks out of South Carolina football:

Rocket (Raheim) Sanders, running back, senior

Rocket Sanders is new to the Gamecocks but one of their best players, especially on offense. Sanders transferred from Arkansas in December, and despite battling injuries for the Razorbacks in 2023 and during the Gamecocks' spring season, Sanders is expected to be an impact player on offense. He was a four-star prospect in 2021 and named South Carolina one of his five finalists before committing to the Razorbacks out of high school.

Quick stats:

  • 2022 First-Team All-SEC

  • Appeared in 32 games over the past three seasons for the Razorbacks (starting 18)

  • Rushed 398 times for 2,230 yards, 17 TDs

  • 49 career receptions for 455 yards and three TDs

  • In 2022 had seven 100-yard games

Tonka Hemingway, defensive lineman, graduate student

Hemingway is a critical part to the defense, a great pass rusher and a valued member of Beamer's roster. The graduate student can play both inside and on the edge. He's appeared in all 48 games over the last four seasons with 17 total starts. Hemingway is from Conway, South Carolina, and is entering his final season with the Gamecocks. According to Pro Football Focus, "Hemingway posted an 82.1 PFF pass-rushing grade that season, which ranked eighth among Power Five interior defensive linemen."

Quick stats:

  • 87 tackles, 53 solo tackles

  • 13.5 tackles for loss

  • 5.5 sacks

  • 10 passes defended

Debo Williams, linebacker, redshirt senior

Williams earned All-SEC recognition as a redshirt junior in 2023. He is a strong playmaker who isn't afraid of contact. He was the top defensive end prospect out of high school according to 247Sports.

Quick stats:

  • 38 career games for the Gamecocks, 14 starts

  • 162 career tackles

  • 1.5 tackles for loss

  • 2.5 sacks

  • Four pass breakups and

  • Seven quarterback hurries

SPENCER RATTLER: Did QB Spencer Rattler's draft stock plummet due to Netflix's 'QB1: Beyond the Lights'?

South Carolina NFL Draft picks 2024

  • Round one, Pick 32: Xavier Legette, wide receiver, Carolina Panthers

  • Round five, Pick 150: Spencer Rattler, quarterback, New Orleans Saints

  • Round six, Pick 180: Marcellas Dial, cornerback, New England Patriots

Lulu Kesin covers South Carolina athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email her at lkesin@gannett.com and follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, @Lulukesin

This article originally appeared on Greenville News: South Carolina 2024 roster: An early look at their top NFL prospects

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