South Carolina’s 2024 football season is over. As the focus shifts to the 2025 season, the team is set to lose a handful of its key contributors to either graduation, the transfer portal or the 2025 NFL draft. 

The defense was one of the brightest spots for the Gamecocks in 2024. Next season the team will have to adapt as it will be looking to replace players from its defensive line, linebacker group and secondary. 

Over 40 Gamecock players either entered the transfer portal or walked on senior day. 17 of those players came from the defensive side of the ball, and many of those players were starters in 2024. 

Kyle Kennard is one player who is set to graduate and enter the 2025 NFL draft. Kennard spent one season with the Gamecocks after transferring from Georgia Tech. 

Kennard made the most of his lone season in the garnet and black, recording 11.5 sacks this season, just 1.5 shy of tying Jadeveon Clowney’s program record, and was named SEC Defensive Player of the Year. Kennard is currently projected as a day-two selection, according to multiple draft analysts. 

Defensive tackle T.J. Sanders is another guy expected to get a lot of buzz in this year’s NFL draft. Sanders has been projected to go in the first round in multiple mock drafts and is likely to be off the board by the end of the second round. 

In the secondary, Irmo native Nick Emmanwori did not walk on senior day, but he did declare his intentions to enter the 2025 NFL draft. Emmanwori led the team in tackles in 2024 and had four interceptions, including two pick-sixes. Many draft experts have Emmanwori as the second Gamecock taken off the board and a few have him as a first-round selection. 

Other notable departures on defense include linebacker Debo Willams. He spent four years with the Gamecocks and has been a leader for the team. 

Linebacker Demetrius Knight Jr. is also set to leave the team after exhausting his college eligibility, The sixth-year senior was second in total tackles this year and forced three fumbles. 

Bam Martin-Scott is another linebacker who, as of now, will not be returning. However, Martin-Scott is seeking another year of eligibility from the NCAA. The former JuCo player is making his case but no decision has been made yet. 

Defensive back O'Donnell Fortune played his last game for the Gamecocks after a strong 2024 campaign. Fortune had three interceptions and 47 total tackles this season. He will play in the annual Hula Bowl All-Star game. 

Defensive tackles Tonka Hemingway and Alex Huntley were a part of the senior day group. Both players were important to the Gamecocks success on defense. 

Overall, the Gamecocks are expected to lose nine of its 15 tackle leaders in 2025. 

On the offensive side of the ball, the team is expected to lose more players, but fewer starters and key contributors. 

Rushing leader Raheim “Rocket” Sanders declared for the NFL draft. He ran for 881 yards and 11 touchdowns this season and came up big in clutch moments. Sanders spent one season with the team after transferring from Arkansas. 

Tight end Joshua Simon led the gamecocks in receptions and receiving yards. The senior finished 2024 with 40 catches for 519 yards and seven touchdowns. 

Backup quarterback Robby Ashford entered the transfer portal and recently committed to Wake Forest. Ashford subbed on the field a few times this season for special run design plays. He also stepped up and filled LaNorris Sellers' role when he went down with an injury early in the season.  

Ashford showcased what he could do as a starter for a team against Akron when he passed for 243 yards and two touchdowns while also rushing for 133 yards and a touchdown. 

The Gamecocks are losing three starting offensive linemen. Kamaar Bell, Vershon Lee and Torricelli Simpkins all walked on senior day. 

On special teams, the Gamecocks will be searching for a new kicker and punter. 

It was an up-and-down year for kicker Alex Herrera, who made all of his extra points but went 15 of 21 on field goal tries. He made a few clutch kicks for the team but also missed a handful that the team needed in games against LSU, Alabama and Illinois. 

Punter Kai Kroeger has been a fan favorite and the backbone of South Carolina’s “Beamer ball” execution. Kroeger spent five seasons with the team and punted 265 times for 11,814 yards. He will be remembered for his exciting play in fake kick situations where he completed 7-10 pass attempts for three touchdowns. 

While finding replacements for these players will be a difficult task, head coach Shane Beamer and crew have already begun recruiting high school talent and looking in the transfer portal. 

The Gamecocks will return to the practice field in the spring and eventually host its annual spring game. The team kicks off its 2025 season against Virginia Tech in Atlanta on Aug. 31.