South Carolina is 4-3 this season and just a few plays away from 6-1. The improvement from a 5-7 2023 campaign is apparent, and the biggest reason for the improvement is the strong play from the Gamecock defense this fall.

The Gamecock defense has played so well, in fact, that the unit has three players who have been mocked as 1st-round NFL Draft picks recently. Defensive tackle TJ Sanders, safety Nick Emmanwori, and EDGE Kyle Kennard have been tremendous in 2024. The terrific trio have found themselves included in several recent mock drafts from CBS Sports. It is worth noting that while Kennard is graduating, Sanders and Emmanwori have another year of collegiate eligibility available.

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CBS’ Ryan Wilson, Chris Trapasso, and Mike Renner all have TJ Sanders as a 1st-round pick in their latest mocks. The CBS trio also all have Sanders listed as the 30th overall pick in the draft. In Wilson’s hypothetical, the Houston Texans select the Palmetto State native. According to Trapasso, the Minnesota Vikings will pick Sanders. Renner projects the San Francisco 49ers taking him in that slot. The Texans, 49ers, and Vikings utilize 3-4 defensive looks, so the athletic Sanders could play tackle, end, or both. A Sanders 1st-round selection would mark USC’s first defensive tackle taken that high since the San Francisco 49ers picked Javon Kinlaw 14th in the 2021 NFL Draft.

Another CBS mock draft, this one from Blake Brockermeyer, includes Nick Emmanwori and Kyle Kennard among the top picks.

Brockermeyer predicts Kennard to the Denver Broncos with the 21st pick of April’s draft. Denver runs a creative, multiple defense, so Kennard could play defense end or stand-up rusher if taken by Denver. If taken in the 1st round, Kennard would be the first Gamecock EDGE 1st rounder since Jadeveon Clowney (1st to the Houston Texans in 2014).

The CBS analyst has Emmanwori going three picks later to the Baltimore Ravens at No. 24. Emmanwori’s ability to play either safety spot, operate in the box, and drop back in coverage would fit well into a Baltimore defense that asks its safeties to do a lot. Jaycee Horn (8th to the Carolina Panthers in 2021) was the last Gamecock defensive back who went in the 1st.

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The South Carolina football program has had multiple NFL Draft 1st-round picks just twice. Back in 1981, Heisman Trophy-winning running back George Rogers was picked first by the New Orleans Saints. Tight end Willie Scott went to the Kansas City Chiefs later in the round. In 2012, cornerback Stephon Gilmore and EDGE Melvin Ingram went 10th to the Buffalo Bills and 18th to the San Diego Chargers, respectively. The Gamecocks have never had three 1st rounders in one year.