South Carolina star safety Nick Emmanwori is expected to declare for 2025 NFL Draft after sitting out the second half of the Gamecocks' 21-17 Citrus Bowl loss to Illinois. The junior registered five tackles in the game but was absent after halftime as the Illini put together a series of long drives to close out a hotly contested game.

The Gamecocks lost a tough battle, falling 21-17 to Illinois in the 2024 Cheez-It Citrus Bowl. South Carolina finishes the season with a 9-4 record, leaving ple

That was it — Illinois had a 10-win football team for the first time since 2001, a bowl win for the first time since 2011 and arguably its biggest win in any game since the 2007 upset at No. 1 Ohio State.