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South Carolina football duo earns spots in latest ESPN two-round mock draft

by: Kevin Miller02/04/25kevinbmiller52
South Carolina defensive lineman TJ Sanders (C.J. Driggers/Gamecock Central).
South Carolina defensive lineman TJ Sanders (C.J. Driggers/Gamecock Central).

On Monday, ESPN NFL Draft analyst Matt Miller released his two-round mock NFL Draft. A pair of South Carolina football products earned spots in his projected top 64. It should surprise no one that Nick Emmanwori and TJ Sanders—the two Gamecocks with the most overall NFL Draft hype this offseason—are those players.

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First, Miller projects Emmanwori to come off the board at No. 30 to the Buffalo Bills. The Bills are one of the NFL’s best overall teams but need help in the secondary because of a pass defense that ranked in the bottom third of the league in passing yards allowed in 2024 and was just two passing first downs allowed shy of being the NFL’s worst in the statistic. Emmanwori, who earned All-American honors this fall for the Gamecocks, has become a very good coverage player (showing off man skills and zone ability) and already is an elite tackler. Lately, he’s been a trendy pick to land in the first round.

Miller then includes Sanders in the second round. Picked No. 48 (second round, pick 16) by the Miami Dolphins, the All-SEC defensive lineman would be on his way to a team that lost an All-Pro tackle in Christian Wilkins last offseason and missed his production this fall. The Dolphins finished in the bottom third of the NFL in both rushing defense and sacks in 2024. Sanders, one of the draft’s best combinations of athleticism and power at defensive tackle, should be able to help with that. Likely a 3-technique primarily, Sanders could play more inside on 3rd down or even kick out to end situationally. Sanders has earned some first round buzz and seems destined to be selected sometime in the draft’s first two rounds.

Nagurski Award-winner and consensus All-American EDGE Kyle Kennard could end up in the second round, too. Recently, linebacker Demetrius Knight has moved up draft boards, as well, but he’s likely a mid-round pick. Several other former Gamecocks are NFL Draft hopefuls, and South Carolina could challenge its single-draft record for selections this spring. In both 2009 and 2013, USC had seven players drafted.

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This year’s NFL Draft will take place from Thursday, April 24th until Saturday, April 26th. ABC, NFL Network, and the ESPN family of networks will cover the draft festivities.

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