The South Carolina star, who won the Bronko Nagurski Trophy as the top defensive player in college football, has chosen to skip the Gamecocks’ Cheez-It Citrus Bowl game against Illinois, as confirmed by coach Shane Beamer on Wednesday.
The 6-foot-5, 254-pound edge rusher led the SEC with 15.5 tackles for loss and 11.5 sacks, and also forced three fumbles. This season was Kennard’s only one at South Carolina after transferring from Georgia Tech.
Beamer stated that Kennard is opting out of the bowl game to focus on preparing for the 2025 NFL Draft. ESPN’s Mel Kiper ranks Kennard as the No. 6 outside linebacker in the draft, with ESPN’s Field Yates predicting him to be selected No. 26 overall by the Green Bay Packers.
Kennard was named SEC Defensive Player of the Year by both the coaches and the Associated Press, playing a crucial role in a South Carolina defensive line that was regarded as one of the best in the nation. Together with freshman Dylan Stewart, Kennard helped the Gamecocks record 30 sacks, tying for third nationally.
South Carolina (9-3) will face Illinois on December 31 in Orlando, aiming to win 10 or more games for just the fifth time in school history.
Leave a Reply