Former South Carolina playmaker shares his predictions for Gamecocks’ rising stars as he prepares for the 2025 NFL Draft

The South Carolina Gamecocks are coming off their best season in the College Football Playoff era—finishing 2024 ranked 15th in the nation, just shy of making the playoff cut. Shane Beamer finally managed to harness the immense potential of his team, delivering a season to remember. But with several key players now heading to the NFL, the burning question is: can South Carolina repeat or even improve on that success in 2025?

One player who certainly believes they can is Joshua Simon, last season’s standout tight end and the focal point of the Gamecocks’ receiving game. I caught up with Simon at the NFL Combine, and his insights were impressive—not that it would surprise any South Carolina fan. Simon spoke about how the variety of schemes he played in, including the pro-style offense under Dowell Loggains in recent years, helped prepare him for the next level.

However, instead of focusing solely on himself, Simon was quick to praise his teammates and coaches, particularly Shane Beamer, for the role they played in his college success. And when I asked him about South Carolina’s prospects for 2025 and which players he thought would step up this season, he was notably optimistic about several returnees. Most of the names were familiar, but one particular player stood out.

While much of the attention is on quarterback LaNorris Sellers and the dynamic wide receiver duo of Mazeo Bennett and Nyck Harbor—both of whom began to break out in 2024—Simon highlighted a surprising name: Jawarn Howell. Howell, a young running back who only had 20 touches last season, is someone Simon believes could make a major impact. With Raheim “Rocket” Sanders moving on, South Carolina is looking for a new star in the backfield. While Rahsul Faison, a transfer from Utah State, and veteran Oscar Adaway are expected to take the first snaps, Simon is particularly high on Howell as a younger, potentially more explosive option.

But it’s not just the offense that needs fresh faces. The defense, too, faces significant changes with the departure of All-American safety Nick Emmanwori and much of the defensive front, including Kyle Kennard, T.J. Sanders, and Tonka Hemingway. The pressure will be on sophomore Dylan Stewart, who has the potential to be one of the nation’s best edge rushers, and veterans like Jalon Kilgore and Vicari Swain to lock things down on the back end.

Looking ahead, South Carolina’s schedule is tough, especially with their final seven games of 2025 featuring powerhouse teams like LSU, Alabama, Ole Miss, Texas A&M, and Clemson. The Gamecocks will certainly need these emerging stars to step up if they hope to replicate, or even exceed, last season’s performance.