Pair of South Carolina football stars pick up NFL Draft 1st round grades

South Carolina football is 3-1 so far during the 2024 season, and the best performing phase on Shane Beamer's team is the defense. The Gamecocks are much improved on that side of the ball, and all three levels of the unit are playing good football as the team heads into the toughest portion of their schedule.

Two of the most impactful players on the Gamecock defense have recently received really high NFL Draft grades.

Defensive lineman TJ Sanders has gotten multiple 1st round NFL Draft projections from CBS Sports' Chris Trapasso, and the NFL analyst published another mock draft that included Sanders going 22nd overall to the Dallas Cowboys. Sanders also was mocked in the 1st round by Walter Football as he went 23rd to the Cincinnati Bengals in that projection.

South Carolina defensive back Nick Emmanwori also has gotten some good news regarding his NFL Draft stock lately. CBS Sports' Mike Renner has the Gamecock safety going to the Buffalo Bills with the 26th pick of the draft.

So far during the 2024 season, Sanders has 12 tackles, 1 sack, and 1 tackle for loss. He has missed a little bit of time with a foot injury but seems like he will be fine moving forward. He led the Gamecocks in sacks during the 2023 season playing multiple positions up front, but he has played almost all of his 2024 snaps at defensive tackle.

Emmanwori has played some of his best football this fall. The newly-minted #7 is leading the Gamecocks in tackles and interceptions from his safety position. Even with one pick-6 against LSU being called back due to a questionable penalty, Emmanwori has 2 interceptions during the Gamecocks' 3-1 start, and he returned one of those picks for a touchdown.

TJ Sanders, Nick Emmanwori, and the rest of the South Carolina football team will take the field again on October 5th when they face off with the Ole Miss Rebels at Williams-Brice Stadium.