Shane Beamer reveals feedback from NFL scouts on South Carolina program

South Carolina coach Shane Beamer is getting rave reviews on his program from NFL scouts following the 2025 NFL Draft. The numbers back it up, with five Gamecocks players drafted, tied for the most in Beamer’s four-year tenure.

Although South Carolina did not have any first-round draft picks, safety Nick Emmanwori got the ball rolling in the second round as the Seattle Seahawks took him with the No. 35 overall pick. The Gamecocks also had two more players taken in the second round in defensive tackle T.J. Sanders and linebacker Demetrius Knight.

Edge rusher Kyle Kennard, who won SEC Defensive Player of the Year, somehow slid to the fourth round before being picked up by the Los Angeles Chargers. Defensive tackle Tonka Hemingway rounded things out a few picks later and was the final Gamecock drafted.

Beamer believes the number of South Carolina players picked will stand out to high school coaches and players as he tries to continue to build the program. Coming off of the highest win total of his career in a 9-4 season, he revealed what scouts told him about his player development.

“It really resonates when people, whether it be a high school coach or an NFL personnel guy that has been at other schools previously, they come in here and they talk about our body types and just, ‘Hey man, you guys look so much more athletic, you guys are so much longer,'” Beamer told ESPN. “The way that we’re recruiting and the way that we’re developing our roster, when they get into our program, NFL teams recognize that, and they’re going to continue to come around here.”

Running back Rocket Sanders was one notable player from South Carolina who was not drafted. In fact, no offensive players were taken for the Gamecocks. Sanders eventually signed an undrafted free agent deal with the Chargers, where he joins Kennard.

Beamer doesn’t believe the South Carolina will slow down producing NFL talent either. Players such as quarterback LaNorris Sellers and defensive end Dylan Stewart are also getting high draft grades for 2026 according to ESPN. In the end, the coach sees this class producing players who enjoy long pro careers, which should get fans excited about what lies ahead for the upcoming season.

“I think there’s a lot of guys in this year’s class that are going to go to the NFL and be pros for a long time, just like those guys from that era with [Jadeveon] Clowney and Stephon Gilmore and Melvin Ingram,” Beamer said. “This isn’t going to be just something that’s like a flash in the pan.”