GREEN BAY, Wis. —
South Carolina edge rusher Kyle Kennard heard his name called on Day 3 of the 2025 NFL Draft, as the Los Angeles Chargers selected him with the 23rd pick of the fourth round (125th overall) on Saturday.
Kennard, measuring 6-foot-4 1/8 and weighing 262 pounds, hails from Atlanta, Ga. He spent four seasons at Georgia Tech before transferring to South Carolina for his final year. Across his collegiate career, Kennard appeared in 54 games with 32 starts, tallying 143 tackles, 37.0 tackles for loss, and 24.0 sacks.
During his lone season with the Gamecocks, Kennard turned in one of the most decorated performances in program history. He became South Carolina’s first-ever Bronko Nagurski Trophy winner, while also earning the Blanchard-Rogers Trophy as the top college player in South Carolina. Kennard was a finalist for prestigious honors such as the Lombardi Award, Chuck Bednarik Award, and Walter Camp Player of the Year. He was named a First-Team All-American by AFCA, Walter Camp, FWAA, SI.com, Reese’s Senior Bowl, and Phil Steele, and earned Second-Team recognition from the AP, Sporting News, CBS Sports, and ESPN. Kennard was also named the SEC Defensive Player of the Year by both the coaches and the AP, and was recognized as one of the Joe Morrison Defensive MVPs for the Gamecocks.
Later in the fourth round, Gamecocks defensive tackle Tonka Hemingway was taken by the Las Vegas Raiders with the 33rd pick (135th overall).
Hemingway, a 6-foot-2 7/8, 282-pound native of Conway, S.C., spent five seasons at South Carolina, playing in a record-tying 61 games and making 28 starts. Over his career, he totaled 17.5 tackles for loss, 9.5 sacks, 11 pass breakups, 19 quarterback hurries, six fumble recoveries, and scored two touchdowns along with a two-point conversion.
In 2024, Hemingway earned Third-Team All-SEC honors from College Football Nation and was recognized with the Community Service Award by the SEC coaches. He also became the inaugural recipient of the Ray Tanner Award, which honors leadership and character. On the field during his final season, Hemingway logged 25 tackles, including four sacks, six quarterback hurries, two fumble recoveries, a pass breakup, and a forced fumble.
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