Former South Carolina players continued their NFL preseason and quest to make the 53-man roster in week two. Here's how they did.
Former South Carolina players wrapped up the second week of preseason football after the Bengals and Commanders played the first Monday Night Football of the 2025 season.
As of Aug. 18, three former Gamecocks sit on the injured reserve (IR) – Patriots cornerback Marcellas Dial Jr. (ACL), Broncos guard Nick Gargiulo (Knee) and Broncos fullback Nate Adkins (Ankle).
Here is a recap of how South Carolina’s NFL products performed in the second week of preseason football.
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AFC West
Kyle Kennard – EDGE/outside linebacker, Los Angeles Chargers
Kyle Kennard again missed his second straight preseason game on Saturday. In Kennard’s debut during the annual Hall of Fame Game, he left early with a collarbone injury.
Raheim Sanders – Running back, Los Angeles Chargers
Sanders did not have the strongest performance in the Chargers’ first loss of preseason play, rushing for 11 yards on five carries. However, the rookie running back did score a touchdown and caught two passes for 17 yards.
Dalevon Campbell – Wide receiver, Los Angeles Chargers
After a strong start to preseason play in his opening two games, Campbell failed to make a catch against the Rams, being targeted only twice.
Nick Gargiulo – Guard, Denver Broncos
Gargiulo joined Adkins on the Broncos’ IR with a knee injury on Aug. 17 after an injury against the Cardinals that resulted in the offensive lineman being carted off the field. The designation likely ends his sophomore season in the NFL.
Adam Prentice – Fullback, Denver Broncos
The Broncos picked up Prentice after losing Gargiulo to a knee injury.
Tonka Hemingway – Defensive tackle, Las Vegas Raiders
Hemingway took a step back in his second preseason contest against San Francisco, recording only one tackle.
AFC East
TJ Sanders – Defensive tackle, Buffalo Bills
Sanders forced solid pressure on the Giants’ quarterbacks, recording QB hits on Jameis Winston and Jaxson Dart. However, the rookie tackle failed to record a tackle in Saturday’s contest.
Alex Huntley – Defensive end, Miami Dolphins
Huntley has yet to record a stat during the 2025 NFL preseason.
Cam Smith – Cornerback, Miami Dolphins
Smith made his preseason debut after missing the opening weekend with an injury. The veteran corner made one tackle in the victory over Detroit.
AFC North
Gage Larvadain – Wide receiver, Cleveland Browns
Larvadain made three catches for 43 yards alongside a carry for 16 yards against the Eagles.
Darius Rush – Cornerback, Cleveland Browns
Rush signed with the Browns on Aug. 13 after being waived by Kansas City following an injury designation. The cornerback recorded two tackles in his preseason debut with the Browns.
Demetrius Knight II – Linebacker, Cincinnati Bengals
Knight’s name made waves on social media after the Bengals posted him making an acrobatic interception in practice. Knight had two tackles Monday night against the Commanders.
NFC South
Jovaughn Gwyn – Center, Atlanta Falcons
Gwyn ranked inside the top five of offensive Falcons in PFF grades from their preseason game against the Titans (68.2).
Joshua Simon – Tight end, Atlanta Falcons
Simon failed to make a catch on one target in the Falcons’ loss to the Titans.
Jaycee Horn – Cornerback, Carolina Panthers
Horn was inactive in the Panthers’ preseason loss to the Texans due to a thumb injury.
Xavier Legette – Wide receiver, Carolina Panthers
Legette has yet to make a catch during the Panthers’ preseason despite appearing in both games. Regardless, the wideout remains one of the Panthers’ top three options at the position.
DJ Wonnum – Outside linebacker, Carolina Panthers
Wonnum recorded two tackles against the Texans.
Rico Dowdle – Running back, Carolina Panthers
Dowdle continued his slow start to the preseason, taking only two carries for two yards in a loss that featured nine players running the ball for the Panthers. However, Dowdle did catch one pass for 15 yards.
Bam Martin-Scott – Inside linebacker, Carolina Panthers
Martin-Scott recorded three tackles in Saturday’s loss to the Texans. After grading poorly in week one, Martin-Scott graded among the Panthers’ best on defense by PFF (79.5).
Spencer Rattler – Quarterback, New Orleans Saints
Rattler threw for a team-high 199 yards on 18 completions with 24 passing attempts. The second-year quarterback rallied the Saints to a tie against the Jaguars, throwing one touchdown and one interception. He also had three carries for 19 yards.
Torricelli Simpkins III – Guard/Center, New Orleans Saints
Simpkins started on the offensive line at Center during the Saints’ second preseason game.
NFC North
Keisean Nixon – Cornerback, Green Bay Packers
While it has not been the strongest preseason, having yet to record a stat through two games, Nixon enters 2025 expected to compete for the Packers’ CB1 position.
Kingsley Enagbare – Defensive end, Green Bay Packers
Enagbare was a coin-toss captain during the Packers’ second preseason game against the Colts. The EDGE rusher made one tackle in the victory.
Zacch Pickens – Defensive tackle, Chicago Bears
Pickens rotated in as the fifth defensive tackle for the Bears during Sunday’s preseason contest. He did not record a stat in the shutout victory over the Bills.
Vershon Lee – Guard/Center, Minnesota Vikings
Lee has played the sixth-most snaps of any Viking player during the 2025 preseason so far (81). The guard also ranks in the same spot in PFF grades among offensive Vikings players (73.1).
NFC East
Israel Mukuamu – Safety, Dallas Cowboys
Mukuamu continued to play solidly against the Ravens after an impressive preseason opener in week one. Despite the blowout loss, Mukuamu recorded two solo tackles.
Jalen Brooks – Wide receiver, Dallas Cowboys
Brooks caught his only target of the loss for 11 yards.
O’Donnell Fortune – Cornerback, New York Giants
Fortune recorded a key tackle after being beaten for a 58-yard reception that limited a Bills drive to a field goal. He finished Saturday’s win with three total tackles.
Dante Miller, Running back, New York Giants
Miller had another steady performance in the Giants’ backfield, taking five carries for 17 yards, averaging 3.4 yards per carry.
Nick Muse – Tight end, Philadelphia Eagles
Muse caught one pass for seven yards on his only target in the Eagles’ loss to Cleveland. Muse has now caught both of his targets during the 2025 preseason.
Deebo Samuel – Wide receiver, Washington Commanders
Deebo Samuel received a carry on a jet sweep for 19 yards in his preseason debut with the Commanders.
Javon Kinlaw – Defensive tackle, Washington Commanders
Kinlaw made two tackles in his preseason debut with the Commanders.
NFC West
Nick Emmanwori – Safety, Seattle Seahawks
Emmanwori recorded two solo tackles in the blowout win over Kansas City. Seahawks defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald experimented with having Emmanwori lining up as a short-zone linebacker after having him spend his entire preseason opener in the slot.
Ernest Jones IV – Inside linebacker, Seattle Seahawks
Jones started Friday night after missing the Seahawks’ preseason opener due to the death of his father. Jones assisted on three tackles, recording one solo, in the victory.
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Category: General Sports
