NFL preseason action came to a close over the weekend, and by Tuesday at 4 p.m. ET, every NFL team will have trimmed their rosters down to 53 players. For dozens of former South Carolina Gamecocks, it meant one final audition, and for some, the disappointment of cut day.
Here is how the preseason wrapped up for former Gamecocks, plus the ones who made rosters, who was waived, and who could still land on practice squads.
Preseason Highlights
Raheim "Rocket" Sanders - RB, Los Angeles Chargers
Rocket Sanders capped off his preseason with 48 yards rushing against San Francisco. The rookie led the Chargers this August with 101 yards and two touchdowns on 28 carries, while also adding five receptions for 29 yards.
Kyle Kennard – EDGE/OLB, Los Angeles Chargers
Kennard recorded two tackles in the finale against San Francisco, closing the preseason with three total stops, including one solo.
Dalevon Campbell – WR, Los Angeles Chargers
Campbell caught four passes for 17 yards in the finale, bringing his preseason total to eight receptions for 147 yards.
Gage Lavadain - WR, Clevland Browns
Larvadain stood out against some other former Gamecocks, posting nine catches for 94 yards and a touchdown, plus 20 rushing yards and another score.
Spencer Rattler - QB, New Orleans Saints
Rattler saw limited snaps, but finished the preseason play with an impressive 295 passing yards, one touchdown, and one interception.
Kingsley Enagbare - DE, Green Bay Packers
Enagbare closed the season with two tackles and a fumble recovery against Seattle, giving him eight tackles across three games.
Bam Martin-Scott - LB, Carolina Panthers
Martin-Scott tied the team lead with five tackles, ending the preseason with 12 total tackles, seven of which were solo.
Adam Prentice – FB, Denver Broncos
Recently signed by Denver, Prentice logged one carry for two yards against his former team, the New Orleans Saints.
Tonka Hemingway – DT, Las Vegas Raiders
Hemingway collected his first tackle of the preseason versus Arizona and also tallied three QB hits.
TJ Sanders – DT, Buffalo Bills
Sanders was double-teamed throughout the finale vs. Tampa Bay and finished without a tackle. He closes the preseason with two solo stops.
Alex Huntley – DE, Miami Dolphins
Huntley logged his only two tackles of the preseason against Jacksonville.
Cam Smith – CB, Miami Dolphins
Smith had one tackle in the win over Jacksonville, finishing with two total.
Darius Rush – CB, Cleveland Browns
Rush added two tackles in the finale and closes the preseason with four (two solo).
Demetrius Knight II – LB, Cincinnati Bengals
Knight missed the end of the preseason with a lower leg injury but is expected to return by Week 1.
Jovaughn Gwyn – C, Atlanta Falcons
Gwyn earned a 68.1 grade from Pro Football Focus in the finale, continuing his steady play.
Joshua Simon – TE, Atlanta Falcons
Simon was listed as a reserve in the finale against Dallas.
Jaycee Horn – CB, Carolina Panthers
Horn sat out with a thumb injury.
Xavier Legette – WR, Carolina Panthers
Legette did not record a preseason reception.
DJ Wonnum – OLB, Carolina Panthers
Inactive for the finale, Wonnum ends the preseason with three assisted tackles.
Rico Dowdle – RB, Carolina Panthers
Inactive for the finale, Dowdle closes with five carries for nine yards and two catches for 35 yards.
Torricelli Simpkins III – OL, New Orleans Saints
Simpkins boosted his stock with steady play and may be a surprise roster candidate.
Keisean Nixon – CB, Green Bay Packers
Nixon recorded one tackle against Seattle.
Vershon Lee – C/G, Minnesota Vikings
Lee continued to see reps at center in the preseason finale.
Jalen Brooks – WR, Dallas Cowboys
Brooks added two receptions for 35 yards and a touchdown, finishing with five catches for 72 yards.
O’Donnell Fortune – CB, New York Giants
Fortune was waived Aug. 22 after a preseason with six tackles and three pass breakups.
Dante Miller – RB, New York Giants
Miller capped preseason with 11 carries for 41 yards, finishing with 80 total yards on 26 carries.
Nick Muse – TE, Philadelphia Eagles
Muse had two catches for 13 yards this August.
Deebo Samuel – WR, Washington Commanders
Samuel logged one reception for 19 yards in limited preseason action.
Javon Kinlaw – DT, Washington Commanders
Kinlaw notched two tackles in the finale against Baltimore, his only two of preseason.
Nick Emmanwori – S, Seattle Seahawks
Emmanwori recorded two tackles in the finale against Green Bay.
Ernest Jones IV – ILB, Seattle Seahawks
Jones made four tackles against the Packers, all his preseason production.
Final Roster Cuts and Moves
The deadline on Tuesday afternoon will force some tough decisions. Former Gamecocks Spencer Rattler, Xavier Legette, Zacch Pickens, Deebo Samuel, and others have survived their teams' 53-man rosters.
On 53-man rosters:
Jovaughn Gwyn (Falcons), Jadeveon Clowney (Panthers), Jaycee Horn (Panthers), Xavier Legette (Panthers), Zacch Pickens (Bears), Jalen Brooks (Cowboys), Rico Dowdle (Cowboys), Israel Mukuamu (Cowboys), Nate Adkins (Broncos), Kingsley Enagbare (Packers), Keisean Nixon (Packers), Hayden Hurst (Chargers), Stephon Gilmore (Vikings), Nick Muse (Vikings), Marcellas Dial (Patriots), Adam Prentice (Saints), Spencer Rattler (Saints), Javon Kinlaw (Jets), Darius Rush (Steelers), Deebo Samuel (49ers), Ernest Jones (Titans).
Notable waived players include:
Dennis Daley – Arizona Cardinals
Zack Bailey – Atlanta Falcons
Damiere Byrd – Buffalo Bills
Ahmarean Brown – Cleveland Browns
Nick Gargiulo – Denver Broncos
Chris Lammons – Indianpolis Colts
Kevin Harris – New England Patriots
Reserved/Injured:
Cam Smith (Dolphins), Trey Knox (Vikings), Taylor Stallworth (Commanders).
D.J. Wonnum was also inactive for the Panthers, who chose to bench their starters and key reserve players.
The waiver wire process runs until noon on Wednesday before practice squads are assembled. The 2024 NFL season officially begins Sept. 5, when the Baltimore Ravens face the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium on NBC.