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ESPN's Mel Kiper includes pair of South Carolina stars among NFL Combine "risers"

by: Kevin Miller03/04/25kevinbmiller52
south carolina gamecocks safety nick emmanwori
South Carolina defensive back Nick Emmanwori (DB40) runs in the 40 yard dash during the 2025 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

South Carolina football was one of the best-represented programs in the country at this year’s NFL Combine. This proved to be true both in quantity and in quality. With 12 total players competing, the Gamecocks trailed only the Texas Longhorns, Ohio State Buckeyes, and Georgia Bulldogs. Shane Beamer’s program also had some of the very best showings at this year’s combine.

On Monday, ESPN’s Mel Kiper highlighted 18 players whose draft stock improved in Indianapolis. Two of them were Gamecocks.

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First, Nick Emmanwori made an appearance on Kiper’s list of six 1st-round players who made a statement at the combine.

Said Kiper about Emmanwori, “Everyone was talking about Emmanwori as a potential combine standout. He lived up to the hype in a big way. His 43-inch vertical and 11-foot, 6-inch broad jump ranked No. 1 among all players. His 4.38-second time in the 40 ranked second among safeties (though his 1.49-second 10-yard split was first). It was pure domination, and his outstanding explosion was on full display.

“Toss in really good production in college (four picks in 2024), and he might end up being the first safety off the board. I had Georgia’s Malaki Starks (who ran a solid 4.50) over him at No. 14 to the Colts in the mock draft. Emmanwori was No. 27 to the Ravens. Those two might flip spots after this week.”

Then, on his list of 12 risers beyond round one, Kiper made sure to mention linebacker Demetrius Knight.

Kiper, who already liked the South Carolina captain before the combine, considers him to be an obvious early selection. “Knight transferred to South Carolina after stints at Georgia Tech and Charlotte, and he had a solid 2024 season with 79 tackles, eight run stops, and a pair of sacks,” Kiper said. “He was my No. 4 linebacker entering the week, and after running 4.58 in the 40, he’s a clear Day 2 pick.”

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While not recognized by Mel Kiper, Gamecocks Rocket Sanders and Josh Simon logged elite testing numbers at the NFL Combine. Several other players–like defensive linemen Tonka Hemingway and TJ Sanders, punter Kai Kroeger, linebacker Bam Martin-Scott, and cornerback O’Donnell Fortune–had big performances in on-field drills.

Because of the program’s huge showing at the NFL Combine, South Carolina football seems on pace to break its all-time NFL Draft record for single-season selections. The Gamecocks saw seven players taken in both 2009 and 2013.

This year’s NFL Draft will take place from Thursday, April 24th to Saturday, April 26th in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Fans can tune in to watch the coverage on NFL Network, ABC, and the ESPN family of networks; meanwhile, both NFL.com and the ESPN app will stream coverage, as well.

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