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In the latest developments for the Buffalo Bills’ upcoming draft, the team may be best served by focusing on defense, especially the secondary, with their Round 1 pick.

Although there are growing calls to enhance their wide receiver corps to provide more weapons for quarterback Josh Allen, the reality is that the Bills had an exceptional offensive season in 2024, scoring an impressive 30.9 points per game, ranking second in the NFL. However, when it came down to the crunch, it was the Bills’ defense that faltered in crucial moments.

For Buffalo to surpass the Kansas City Chiefs and finally make it to the Super Bowl, the defense must improve, particularly in high-stakes situations like the AFC Championship game, where they need to allow fewer than 32 points. This could mean prioritizing defense in the upcoming draft — a strategy that is also echoed by the college football writers at The Athletic in their recent mock draft.

The Athletic suggests that Buffalo should strengthen their secondary by selecting South Carolina safety Nick Emmanwori with the 30th overall pick. They highlighted Emmanwori’s high-energy play, noting that he would be a great complement to Damar Hamlin in the safety position. The mock draft described Emmanwori as having an outstanding year, with two pick-sixes and another called back due to a penalty. He led the Gamecocks with 88 tackles, finished with four interceptions, and didn’t allow a touchdown in coverage.

“With the Bills officially past the Micah Hyde/Jordan Poyer safety era, they could use a high-energy performer to pair with Damar Hamlin. Emmanwori was all of that and more at South Carolina.”

However, this recommendation hinges on Emmanwori being available when Buffalo picks at No. 30. With the NFL Combine currently underway, many expect the First Team All-American to climb up draft boards as teams get a closer look at his physical performance. If that happens, the Bills may need to trade up to secure him.

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South Carolina Gamecocks Eliminated from Jared Curtis Recruitment Race

In a major development for the 2026 recruiting class, Jared Curtis has officially narrowed down his college choices, and unfortunately, the South Carolina Gamecocks have been cut from the running.

On Saturday, the highly coveted five-star quarterback announced that his decision is now down to Georgia and Oregon. This leaves South Carolina on the outside looking in, as the Gamecocks no longer appear to be in contention for Curtis’s commitment.

However, it’s important to note that Curtis has made it clear he will only be taking official visits to Georgia and Oregon, despite previously planning to visit South Carolina in late June. While this doesn’t completely shut the door on the Gamecocks, it does place them at a significant disadvantage.

Curtis, who is regarded as the No. 1 quarterback and the second-best player overall in the 2026 class, is also considered the best player from Tennessee according to composite rankings. His status as a five-star recruit makes his decision a highly watched one.

Even though it’s still early in the recruiting cycle, and the Gamecocks have ample opportunities to secure a strong class this year, missing out on Curtis is undoubtedly a blow.

Currently, South Carolina has five commitments in the 2026 class, with J’Zavien Currence, a standout safety who has been committed since last October, leading the charge.

South Carolina Set to Face Ole Miss in Final Road Game of Regular Season

Good evening, fans! We’re gearing up for a thrilling matchup as the No. 6 South Carolina Gamecocks (25-3, 13-1 SEC) hit the road for their final regular-season away game against Ole Miss (18-8, 9-5) Thursday at 9 p.m. ET in The Pavilion. The Rebels are riding high after a 68-66 win over Missouri this past Sunday, and they’ll be looking to keep that momentum going.

South Carolina is tied with Texas for first place in the SEC standings, while Ole Miss sits at fifth. Under Coach Dawn Staley, the Gamecocks have had incredible success against Ole Miss, with a dominant 19-game win streak. Staley’s record against the Rebels at Columbia is impressive, with just two losses, leading the all-time series 31-17.

Here’s what you need to know as the Gamecocks aim to extend their dominance.

South Carolina Eyes To Halt Ole Miss’ Success

The Rebels have proven they can compete with the best this season, suffering close losses to No. 13 Oklahoma (by 10) and No. 1 Texas (by just three points). But they’ve also secured notable wins against No. 14 Kentucky, No. 20 Alabama, and No. 23 Vanderbilt.

Under the leadership of Coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin, Ole Miss has made three straight NCAA Tournaments, and last season, the Rebels set a school record with 12 SEC wins. As of Tuesday’s NCAA Tournament projections, Ole Miss is slotted as a No. 5 seed.

At the forefront of Ole Miss’ attack is 6-foot-2 senior guard Madison Scott, who leads the team with 12.2 points per game, 3.8 assists, and 5.3 rebounds. She’s been a key figure in their strong late-season push, and South Carolina must be prepared for a tough challenge in this final road contest.

How South Carolina’s Offense Compares to Ole Miss

Both teams are high-scoring and defensively disciplined, but South Carolina has the edge in points per game. The Gamecocks are averaging 80.8 points per game, compared to Ole Miss’ 76.1. On the defensive end, both teams are tough, allowing an average of 55.8 points (Ole Miss) and 57.1 points (South Carolina) per game.

Ole Miss has been a force in turnover creation, forcing an average of 21.5 turnovers per game and ranking No. 2 in the SEC with 11.9 steals. South Carolina, though, is no slouch, averaging 9.5 steals per game.

Key to the Game: Ole Miss’ Aggressive Defense

Freshman guard Sira Thienou has been a standout for Ole Miss, averaging a team-high 2.5 steals per game along with 11.1 points and 4.5 rebounds. She’s even recorded up to nine steals in a single game, showcasing her ability to disrupt opposing offenses.

South Carolina will need to focus on limiting Ole Miss’ fast-break opportunities, as transition offense is a major strength for the Gamecocks. However, they struggled in transition defense against UConn earlier this season, so that will be an area to watch closely.

The Gamecocks will look to push the tempo and out-run Ole Miss, similar to their shutout of fast-break points against Vanderbilt.

Joyce Edwards & MiLaysia Fulwiley: The Driving Force for South Carolina

Over the last three games, Joyce Edwards and MiLaysia Fulwiley have been the primary offensive catalysts for South Carolina. Edwards is averaging 13.2 points per game, while Fulwiley is close behind with 11.6.

In South Carolina’s most recent game, Fulwiley tied her career-high with 24 points, and Edwards added a double-double with 17 points and 12 rebounds. Against a tough Ole Miss defense, the duo will need to keep up their impressive offensive play to carry the Gamecocks to victory.

Special Bond Between Edwards and Fulwiley

The unique bond between Joyce Edwards and MiLaysia Fulwiley has emerged as one of South Carolina’s greatest strengths, providing the team with an undeniable offensive edge.

Final Prediction: South Carolina vs Ole Miss

While Ole Miss will undoubtedly put up a tough fight, South Carolina is expected to come out on top. Look for a competitive contest, but in the end, the Gamecocks are projected to win 82-75.

Stay tuned for all the action as we continue to follow this exciting game!

Will the Baltimore Ravens Strengthen Their Defense by Adding Depth at Safety?

As the NFL offseason heats up, all eyes are on the Baltimore Ravens and their defensive strategy moving forward. One key question: Will the team seek to bolster the back end of its defense?

Safety Kyle Hamilton has earned a reputation for his impressive versatility, but his role during the second half of the season didn’t necessarily showcase all of his abilities. The Ravens had Marcus Williams sidelined and Eddie Jackson released, leaving Hamilton and Ar’Darius Washington as the primary safeties. This limited Hamilton’s role, forcing him into more of a deep safety position, rather than using his full skill set, which includes excelling in the slot or acting as a pseudo-linebacker.

While the Ravens’ defense showed improvement in the latter half of the season, adding more depth could allow Hamilton to showcase his full potential and give the defense an extra edge.

ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. certainly believes that strengthening the safety position could be key for Baltimore. In his pre-combine mock draft, Kiper projects the Ravens to select Nick Emmanwori, the standout safety from South Carolina, with the 27th overall pick.

Kiper highlighted Emmanwori’s unique blend of size and explosiveness: “This guy is going to catch everyone’s eye during combine workouts,” he wrote. “At 6-3, 227 pounds, his athleticism is off the charts. But he’s not just a physical specimen—he picked off four passes for the Gamecocks this past season.”

Should the Ravens secure Emmanwori, pairing him with Hamilton could solidify the back end of the defense, potentially eliminating threats in the third level of the field. This is a key consideration, especially after the Ravens allowed 58 plays of 20 or more yards in 2024—the third most in the league.

With his exceptional combination of size, athleticism, and ball skills, Emmanwori is certainly a player to watch during this week’s NFL Scouting Combine. It’s clear the Ravens will be keeping a close eye on his performance, as they look to add more depth to an already improving defense.

The NFL Combine kicks off this week, offering draft hopefuls the chance to impress NFL scouts, coaches, and decision-makers. Players will undergo official measurements, athletic tests, interviews, and position-specific drills, all aimed at improving their stock. A total of 11 South Carolina football products are in attendance, looking to catch the eye of NFL franchises.

Though he won’t hit the field until Friday, one Gamecock is already generating plenty of buzz. South Carolina All-American safety Nick Emmanwori has been receiving praise from several NFL Draft analysts, including ESPN’s Jordan Reid. Reid has singled out Emmanwori as someone fans should be keeping an eye on.

Appearing on SportsCenter, Reid said, “He’s going to put up some ridiculous testing numbers. I expect him–at 6-foot-3, 230 pounds–to run in the high 4.3s…jump 40+ in the vertical. He could exceed 11 feet in the broad jump.” Reid also mentioned that a strong performance could help Emmanwori “potentially be the first safety off of the board.”

Emmanwori’s physical prowess is matched by his on-field achievements. Over three seasons with the Gamecocks, the Irmo native has demonstrated elite tackling ability. His junior year saw a noticeable improvement in his coverage instincts and ball skills, rounding out his already impressive skill set. Emmanwori’s combination of run-stopping, coverage ability, and physical gifts should make him a highly sought-after player at the NFL level.

If Emmanwori is selected in the first round, he would become South Carolina’s highest-drafted safety since Rick Sanford, a versatile defensive back taken by the New England Patriots in 1979, who primarily played safety in the NFL.

The NFL Combine is underway in Indianapolis, and Emmanwori, along with other Gamecock alumni, will begin their on-field workouts on Thursday. Stay tuned to GamecockCentral.com for continuous coverage and updates.

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South Carolina Gamecocks Eliminated from Jared Curtis Recruitment Race

In a major development for the 2026 recruiting class, Jared Curtis has officially narrowed down his college choices, and unfortunately, the South Carolina Gamecocks have been cut from the running.

On Saturday, the highly coveted five-star quarterback announced that his decision is now down to Georgia and Oregon. This leaves South Carolina on the outside looking in, as the Gamecocks no longer appear to be in contention for Curtis’s commitment.

However, it’s important to note that Curtis has made it clear he will only be taking official visits to Georgia and Oregon, despite previously planning to visit South Carolina in late June. While this doesn’t completely shut the door on the Gamecocks, it does place them at a significant disadvantage.

Curtis, who is regarded as the No. 1 quarterback and the second-best player overall in the 2026 class, is also considered the best player from Tennessee according to composite rankings. His status as a five-star recruit makes his decision a highly watched one.

Even though it’s still early in the recruiting cycle, and the Gamecocks have ample opportunities to secure a strong class this year, missing out on Curtis is undoubtedly a blow.

Currently, South Carolina has five commitments in the 2026 class, with J’Zavien Currence, a standout safety who has been committed since last October, leading the charge.

In what has already been a highly discussed first season of the 12-team College Football Playoff (CFP), speculation about expanding and reforming the playoff model is gaining momentum. Reports suggest a potential new structure where the SEC and Big Ten would each secure four automatic bids to the CFP.

The introduction of automatic bids would likely reduce the significance of conference championship games. ESPN’s Paul Finebaum, speaking recently on McElroy and Cubelic in the Morning, shared his thoughts on the subject, suggesting that the SEC might eventually move away from its conference championship game altogether.

“I think there’s two schools of thought,” Paul Finebaum explained. “The old school thought is everything we already know about those weekends, but I think you have to eliminate that because that weekend is already getting diluted slightly. It even felt that way this year in Atlanta. Yeah, there were a handful of empty seats. We knew both programs were going to the Playoff, we just didn’t know which one [would earn a bye].”

As the SEC Championship Game approached, it seemed inevitable that both participating teams would be part of the CFP. This diluted the stakes of the game compared to others, like the Big 12 Championship, where only the winner would advance. Finebaum suggests that, regardless of any playoff expansion or the inclusion of auto-bids, the SEC will continue to place multiple teams in the CFP field, diminishing the game’s overall importance.

“But I think if it’s done right and if it’s done with a minimum of schools,” Finebaum continued, “I think there could be some drama that weekend, if we had a play-in for the fourth spot or something. Let’s say Alabama had played Ole Miss this year in Atlanta for the final spot in the field, as opposed to Alabama-Texas. There probably would have been tremendous interest in that.”

With an expanded playoff system, the SEC could be assured of four teams making the field each season, removing any playoff-related stakes from the SEC Championship Game. At that point, the championship game would purely serve the purpose of crowning a conference champion, without direct implications for the CFP. Finebaum believes this shift opens the door for new possibilities.

“There were a lot of people watching the game as it was, but there was minimum on the line. There was a first-round bye on the line, which didn’t really seem to help either team,” Finebaum noted. “And didn’t help anybody in the field, but I think it can be done that way. But if you start getting games in Atlanta and then two or three home sites, I think the weekend is gonna be a mirage.”

The 2024 SEC Championship Game, between Georgia and Texas, drew 16.6 million viewers, slightly down from the 17.52 million who tuned in for the 2023 edition of the game. The decrease highlights the shifting dynamics and growing sense that the SEC Championship Game’s relevance may evolve significantly with the changes to the playoff structure.

In a live update on South Carolina athletics, the department has reported a slight financial loss for the 2024 fiscal year, despite generating $31 million from football. Men’s basketball posted a profit, but women’s basketball ended the year with a deficit, and overall contributions to the department experienced a decline.

According to financial documents reviewed by The Greenville News, the total operating revenue for South Carolina athletics was $183.4 million, while expenses amounted to $183.6 million, leaving the department with a deficit of $194,175. This follows a pattern of fluctuating financial results, including a $3.7 million deficit in 2022 and an $11 million shortfall in 2021.

Football, as expected, remained the department’s primary source of revenue, bringing in $78.5 million while spending $47.6 million. Key sources of this revenue included $19.8 million from ticket sales, $15.4 million in media rights, and $5.2 million in parking and concessions. Despite a disappointing 5-7 season in 2023, football revenue saw a $5 million increase from the previous year.

In the basketball programs, the men’s team reported a solid $3.48 million profit, generating $13.3 million in revenue against $9.8 million in expenses. However, women’s basketball faced a $5.7 million deficit, earning $5.8 million in revenue but incurring $11.5 million in expenses.

Another concerning development was a decline in contributions to USC athletics, dropping from $34.6 million to $33.8 million. While donations to football and men’s basketball increased, non-program-specific contributions fell by nearly $4.4 million, and donations to women’s basketball also saw a slight decrease.

Despite these financial challenges, South Carolina athletics continues to depend on football revenue as its primary source of income and is actively exploring strategies to balance expenses across all sports programs.

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South Carolina basketball recruit earns All-American honors

South Carolina Football Recruiting Target Tamarion Watkins Boosted to 4-Star Status

We’re closely following South Carolina’s pursuit of Tamarion Watkins, one of the top football recruits in the Palmetto State. The Northwestern High School standout is a physical force on the field, standing at an imposing 6’4″ and weighing 201 pounds. His combination of size and athleticism has caught the attention of major programs, including Georgia, who have shown interest in potentially using him as a linebacker. However, USC defensive backs coach Torrian Gray sees him more as a versatile, long safety for the Gamecocks’ secondary. On3, along with other major recruiting outlets, currently ranks him as a safety.

Recent updates to the 2026 rankings have propelled Watkins to a prestigious position. He now holds a fourth-star ranking in the On3 industry composite rankings—a weighted average from On3, 247Sports, ESPN, and Rivals. This jump comes after On3, 247Sports, and Rivals all updated their rankings in recent weeks. Watkins is now placed at No. 312 nationally, No. 7 in South Carolina, and No. 26 among safeties nationwide. Rivals is especially high on Watkins, ranking him as the No. 125 player in the nation and the top recruit in South Carolina.

Notably, GamecockCentral’s Chris Clark recently included Watkins on a list of prospects who could soon earn South Carolina’s On3 RPM picks. Clark reports that despite a competitive offer list, South Carolina has positioned itself well in Watkins’ recruitment.

As of now, the Gamecocks have five commitments in the 2026 class, currently ranked 14th overall. This group includes 4-star safety J’Zavien Currence, 4-star tight end Jamel Howse, 4-star linebacker/EDGE Keenan Britt, 3-star defensive back Peyton Dyer, and 3-star offensive lineman Anthony Baxter. Interestingly, both Currence and Baxter are from Rock Hill, just like Watkins.

Stay tuned for more updates on this rising prospect and South Carolina’s recruiting efforts.

The UConn Huskies took the top spot in the latest NCAA women’s basketball NET rankings.

Women’s Basketball: No Clear Favorite for 2025 NCAA National Championship.

The past two weeks have proven one thing: there’s no definitive frontrunner for the 2025 NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship. Every team, it seems, has experienced some setbacks, except for the UCLA Bruins. However, even they weren’t immune, suffering a loss to the USC Trojans on February 13 and narrowly escaping defeat against the Iowa Hawkeyes on February 23 in a game that stirred controversy.

Meanwhile, the South Carolina Gamecocks, last year’s national champions and preseason favorites to repeat, have had their own struggles, with two losses in the past fortnight. As for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, who were riding high as the AP No. 1 ranked team, they were upended in a thrilling overtime game by NC State this past Sunday.

With these upsets shaking up the landscape, the spotlight now shifts to Geno Auriemma’s UConn Huskies. As of the latest NCAA NET Rankings released this morning on X, they’ve emerged as the hottest team in the country.

The NCAA March Madness X account confirmed the changes with this post: “🚨 NET RANKINGS UPDATE 🚨

1. UConn
2. South Carolina
3. Texas
4. Notre Dame
5. UCLA
6. USC
7. Kansas State
8. Duke
9. TCU
10. LSU”.

Despite all of the upset losses over the past couple of weeks, the only movement in the top 10 comes within the first two seeds, as UConn and South Carolina have switched places.”

It’s clear from these recent shifts that this women’s college basketball season is far from predictable, and with February drawing to a close, we can expect even more surprises as teams continue to battle for top honors. Keep watching, folks—this season is anything but settled.

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Paul Mainieri Optimistic About Close Wins to Begin South Carolina Baseball Season

South Carolina’s head coach Paul Mainieri is feeling positive about the Gamecocks’ early challenges on the field. Though the team remains undefeated, their performance hasn’t been flawless. The Gamecocks had a close call against Winthrop, which left some fans scratching their heads, even after dominating Sacred Heart in the season opener. But for Mainieri, the tight game is no cause for concern. He values these gritty victories, a perspective he’s held for years thanks to advice from his father.

“I remember my dad vividly saying to me on the phone, ‘Hey, don’t ever be upset about winning close games, because you’re better off having those kinds of games. Your team will grow from it. They’ll learn how to be composed and poised at the end of the game. Down the road when they need to win that close game against a really tough opponent, they’ll have been there and done that, and that makes their confidence even that much better,’” Mainieri reflected.

The Gamecocks aren’t alone in facing tough matchups. Even the no. 8 Georgia Bulldogs experienced struggles, losing to UNC Wilmington on Sunday, only to later pull off a dramatic 9th-inning comeback against Kennesaw State. Not every team, however, has had the dominance displayed by Tennessee, who easily handled both Hofstra and UNC Asheville with lopsided victories.

Looking ahead, the Gamecocks are aiming to continue their perfect streak, with a weekend series against the Milwaukee Panthers on the horizon as they strive for a 6-0 record.