Gamecocks in the NFL: 2025 Training Camp edition

Three Gamecocks will make their NFL debuts when the 2025 preseason officially kicks off Thursday night in the annual Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio.

Thursday’s matchup between the Detroit Lions and Los Angeles Chargers also sets up enshrinement weekend, where South Carolina’s first Pro Football Hall of Fame member, Sterling Sharpe, will receive his bronze bust. Sharpe played wide receiver for the Gamecocks from 1983-87 and was a two-time All-American during his time in Columbia.

While one South Carolina legend gets enshrined forever, 37 other former Gamecocks fight to make a 53-man NFL roster. Here is a breakdown of the former Gamecocks on training camp rosters, as of July 31.

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AFC West

Kyle Kennard – EDGE/outside linebacker, Los Angeles Chargers

The Chargers selected Kennard in the fourth round with the 125th pick during the 2025 NFL Draft. After spending his entire college career as an edge rusher, the Chargers moved Kennard to linebacker ahead of preseason camp. While the extent to which is unknown, Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter confirmed Kennard will play in Thursday’s game.

Raheim Sanders – Running back, Los Angeles Chargers

Sanders has become a fan favorite UDFA signing among Chargers faithful as the summer progressed. Worries set in when the rookie running back sat out of the Chargers’ second day of practice with an apparent injury. However, Sanders returned to practice Monday and is expected to play in Thursday’s contest.

Dalevon Campbell – Wide receiver, Los Angeles Chargers

Campbell’s name has been catching media attention throughout training camp. The former South Carolina receiver has taken multiple first-team reps with the Chargers’ offense and appears in good standing towards making the roster.

Nate Adkins – Tight end, Denver Broncos

Adkins returns to the Broncos as a blocking specialist for quarterback Bo Nix’s offense. The former Gamecock started in ten games during his sophomore season in the NFL, totaling 14 receptions for 115 yards.

Nick Gargiulo – Guard, Denver Broncos

Gargiulo spent 2024 as a member of the Broncos’ practice squad. The former seventh-round pick will again face an uphill fight for an active roster spot in 2025.

Darius Rush – Cornerback, Kansas City Chiefs

Rush enters his third season with the Chiefs. After getting banged up in Sunday’s practice, Rush has continued to miss the first week of padded practice as of July 30.

Tonka Hemingway – Defensive tackle, Las Vegas Raiders

One of five Gamecock players drafted, Hemingway locked in a four-year deal with the Raiders. With the release of fellow defensive tackle Christian Wilkins, Hemingway has the chance to compete for a starting role in his rookie season.

AFC East

Marcellas Dial Jr. – Cornerback, New England Patriots

Dial Jr. has reportedly stepped up in camp after an injury to Christian Gonzalez. The cornerback is entering his second season in the NFL, coming off a rookie campaign where he totaled 12 tackles and a forced fumble.

TJ Sanders – Defensive tackle, Buffalo Bills

The Bills’ second-round pick officially signed a four-year contract with the franchise four days before training camp began. An apparent injury took him out of practice on Monday.

Alex Huntley – Defensive end, Miami Dolphins

Huntley signed with the Dolphins as a UDFA out of the 2025 NFL Draft. He is one of four rookie defensive tackles on the Dolphins’ training camp roster.

Cam Smith – Cornerback, Miami Dolphins

Smith enters his third season as a member of the Dolphins. The corner played only six games during 2024 due to an injury. Smith is reportedly having a quiet camp so far despite injuries to fellow Dolphin cornerbacks.

AFC South

Dennis Daley – Guard/Tackle, Jacksonville Jaguars

Daley received interest from multiple teams before being signed with the Jaguars’ practice squad in 2024. The NFL vet looks to make the roster and play his first regular-season downs since 2023.

AFC North

Gage Larvadain – Wide receiver, Cleveland Browns

Larvadain signed as a UDFA with the Browns after the draft. The slot receiver has been making highlights with multiple of the rookie quarterbacks in Cleveland throughout training camp.

Demetrius Knight II – Linebacker, Cincinnati Bengals

Knight signed a four-year deal with the Bengals after being drafted in the second round. The rookie is expected to push for a starting spot for 2025.

NFC South

Jovaughn Gwyn – Center, Atlanta Falcons

Gwynn enters his third year in the NFL with the Falcons. The seventh-round pick in 2023 has yet to see regular-season action in his career.

Joshua Simon – Tight end, Atlanta Falcons

Simon joined a busy tight end room in Atlanta led by former No. 4 overall pick Kyle Pitts. Simon will battle five fellow tight ends for a spot on the Falcons roster as an UDFA.

Jaycee Horn – Cornerback, Carolina Panthers

The Panthers’ Pro Bowl cornerback recently received a four-year, $100 million contract that made Horn the highest-paid defensive back in the NFL. Horn and the Panthers’ defense are looking to bounce back after a difficult 2024 season.

Xavier Legette – Wide receiver, Carolina Panthers

Legette returns to Carolina after a strong rookie campaign. In 2024, Legette led the Panthers in receptions (49) and was second in receiving yards (497). The second-year receiver is hoping to decrease the number of drops that plagued his rookie year.

DJ Wonnum – Outside linebacker, Carolina Panthers

Wonnum returns for his second year with the Panthers in a battle for his starting role. Wonnum missed nine games in 2024 due to a quad injury. However, the linebacker still ended the season with four sacks and 37 total tackles.

Rico Dowdle – Running back, Carolina Panthers

Rico Dowdle came over to the Panthers after a career 1,000-yard season with Dallas. Panthers head coach Dave Canales didn’t want to get into the specifics on how Dowdle will fit in a running back room that already features Chuba Hubbard. However, he said the young running back gives the Panthers “a variety of play types.”

Bam Martin-Scott – Inside linebacker, Carolina Panthers

Martin-Scott is another South Carolina UDFA turning heads in training camp. Bleacher Report named the former Gamecock as the UDFA with the highest chance of making the Panthers’ 53-man roster.

Spencer Rattler – Quarterback, New Orleans Saints

Rattler enters his sophomore campaign with the Saints as the frontrunner for QB1. As training camp continues, he battles Tyler Shough, Kellen Moore and Jake Haener for the top spot. Rattler started in six games during his rookie season, losing all six. He threw for 1317 yards with a 57% completion percentage (130-228), totaling four touchdowns and five interceptions.

Torricelli Simpkins III – Guard/Center, New Orleans Saints

The Saints signed Simpkins to a UDFA contract after the 2025 NFL Draft. Offensive line play was a struggle for the Saints in 2024, mainly due to a lack of depth.

NFC North

Keisean Nixon – Cornerback, Green Bay Packers

Nixon returns for his third year with the Packers after a breakout 2024 where he recorded career highs in tackles, sacks, pass deflections and interceptions. Packers associate head coach Rich Bisaccia recently said there’s never been a roof on what Nixon can do.

Kingsley Enagbare – Defensive end, Green Bay Packers

Enagbare returns for his fourth season with the Packers. He found himself in a minor scuffle with offensive tackle Rasheed Walker during Wednesday’s practice after Walker refused to let go of Enagbare after a play ended.

Zacch Pickens – Defensive tackle, Chicago Bears

Pickens finds himself on the verge of missing the Bears roster in 2025. The third-round pick in 2023 has struggled to find his footing on the Bears’ defensive line so far in his career.

Vershon Lee – Guard/Center, Minnesota Vikings

Lee earned a mini-camp invite with the Chiefs and Bears before landing with the Vikings heading into training camp.

NFC East

Israel Mukuamu – Safety, Dallas Cowboys

Mukuamu returns to the Cowboys after signing a one-year extension in May. The safety picked off a career-high two passes in 2024, alongside totaling 19 tackles.

Jalen Brooks – Wide receiver, Dallas Cowboys

Brooks caught 12 passes in the 2024 NFL season for 177 yards. The third-year receiver has spent time in training camp working with Cowboys quarterback Joe Milton. The pair is expected to be a common connection throughout the preseason.

O’Donnell Fortune – Cornerback, New York Giants

Fortune signed with the Giants after going undrafted in April. The rookie has made a few pass breakups throughout the start of training camp.

Dante Miller, Running back, New York Giants

Miller signed with the Giants as a UDFA in 2024 and spent the majority of the year on the practice squad. The Giants’ fan-favorite has reportedly shone early in training camp.

Nick Muse – Tight end, Philadelphia Eagles

Muse enters 2025 facing an uphill battle to make the reigning Super Bowl champs’ 53-man roster. He will have to face six fellow tight ends for a spot on the Eagles’ repeat tour team.

Deebo Samuel – Wide receiver, Washington Commanders

Deebo Samuel made shockwaves this offseason, leaving the San Francisco 49ers for the Washington Commanders in a blockbuster trade. The NFL veteran has reportedly shown his ability for explosive plays so far in his first camp with his new team.

Javon Kinlaw – Defensive tackle, Washington Commanders

Kinlaw reportedly showed up to camp in 2025 looking more like his leaner, South Carolina version of himself after inking a three-year, $45 million deal with the Commanders in the offseason.

NFC West

Nick Emmanwori – Safety, Seattle Seahawks

Emmanwori was the first Gamecock off the board in the 2025 NFL Draft, going in the second round at No. 35. The rookie has made some highlights so far in training camp, including a pick-six of fellow Seahawks rookie Jalen Milroe.

Ernest Jones IV – Inside linebacker, Seattle Seahawks

Jones joined the Seahawks in the middle of the 2024 season after his second trade in three months sent him from the Tennessee Titans to Seattle. In his 10 games with the Seahawks, Jones totaled 94 tackles, including one tackle for loss, and caught one interception.

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