As the 2025 NFL Combine approaches, all eyes are on South Carolina Gamecocks standouts Nick Emmanwori and Kyle Kennard, two defensive stars poised to make a seismic impact in Indianapolis from February 24 to March 3. With the NFL Draft looming in late April, these former teammates are set to showcase their elite athleticism and solidify their status as top prospects, potentially cementing their paths to first-round glory. Both players headline a talented group of 11 South Carolina invitees, a testament to the program’s resurgence under coach Shane Beamer, and their performances could push the Gamecocks toward a record-breaking draft class.
Nick Emmanwori, a 6’3”, 227-pound junior safety from Irmo, South Carolina, has been a revelation for the Gamecocks’ secondary. A three-year starter, Emmanwori burst onto the scene as a freshman in 2022, racking up 85 tackles, and has since ascended to All-American status. In 2024, he led the team with 88 tackles, snagged four interceptions—two returned for touchdowns—and earned First-Team All-SEC honors. His rare blend of size, speed, and instincts has scouts buzzing, with projections ranging from mid-to-late first-round to early second-round picks. Analysts like ESPN’s Mel Kiper have praised his “size-speed combination” as a dream for NFL defensive coordinators, comparing him to a more explosive Kam Chancellor. At the Combine, Emmanwori is expected to dazzle with a rumored 4.3-second 40-yard dash, a 42-inch vertical, and an 11-foot-4 broad jump—numbers that could vault him into the top 20 selections. His versatility to play box safety, cover tight ends, or roam deep makes him a scheme-diverse asset, and teams like the Buffalo Bills, who need secondary help, are frequently linked to him in mocks.
Kyle Kennard, a 6’5”, 254-pound edge rusher, took a different path to stardom. After four years at Georgia Tech, he transferred to South Carolina in 2024 and erupted, leading the SEC with 11.5 sacks and 16 tackles for loss. His dominant senior season earned him the Bronko Nagurski Trophy as the nation’s top defensive player and consensus All-American honors. Kennard’s twitchy, long-limbed frame and explosive get-off terrorized quarterbacks, blending speed-to-power moves with a refined rip-and-dip technique. While not as bendy as some elite edge prospects, his length and relentless motor suggest he’s a Day 1 contributor, likely as a stand-up outside linebacker in odd fronts. Mock drafts peg him as a late first-rounder—CBS Sports’ Blake Brockermeyer has him at No. 21 to the Denver Broncos—or an early second-round steal, with the Green Bay Packers also a popular fit opposite Rashan Gary.
For Emmanwori and Kennard, the Combine is their stage to shine. South Carolina’s defensive prowess in 2024—nearly propelling them to the College Football Playoff—owes much to their brilliance. With jaw-dropping athletic displays, these Gamecock stars could rewrite draft boards and etch their names into NFL lore come April 24-26 in Green Bay.
