It has been officially announced that South Carolina will not be participating in the Citrus Bowl with these two elite players because
Although it was anticipated, it has been confirmed that South Carolina will miss two of its best players in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl.
Raheim Sanders, a running back who recently declared for the 2025 NFL Draft, was still up in the air, but head coach Shane Beamer and the rest of the South Carolina team knew they would be missing top EDGE rusher Kyle Kennard for the Chee-It Citrus Bowl matchup against No. 20 Illinois.
Although it was anticipated that Sanders would not participate in one last Gamecocks game before leaving for the NFL Combine, it has now been verified that the standout running back has given up his uniform for the last time.
Both Kennard and Sanders were left off of the Gamecocks’ Citrus Bowl depth list, which means they will not be playing for South Carolina in Orlando. It is common for athletes who have declared for the NFL draft to skip the bowl game because they don’t want to run the risk of being hurt before the combine in late February.
This season, Kennard and Sanders were two of South Carolina’s most important players on both sides of the ball. Kennard led the team in sacks and forced fumbles, while Sanders led the team in running yards and touchdowns.
Beamer will have a significant vacuum to fill without these two, but if nothing else, it provides other players an opportunity to prove to the fourth-year head coach that they are capable of being the next man up. Beamer will be able to play some of the younger players to provide them game experience and observe how they respond, even as South Carolina looks to win their tenth game of the season.
The Gamecocks still have a number of players, like Demetrius Knight Jr., who are probably going to the NFL, but they have decided to play in the bowl game as their last game even without Kennard and Sanders. Naturally, South Carolina will continue to have standout players like wide receiver Nyck Harbor, EDGE rusher Dylan Stewart, and quarterback LaNorris Sellers.
The fact that South Carolina did not qualify for the College Football Playoffs upset a lot of people. Disappointed, Shane Beamer criticized the selection committee for showing partiality toward other clubs, the players on the field, and of course, the supporters.
A number of college football commentators even believed that South Carolina ought to have qualified for the playoffs, but they can’t keep thinking about it forever because the Gamecocks were passed over. As they prepare to play No. 20 Illinois in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl on December 31 in Orlando, Florida, South Carolina should instead concentrate on their bowl game.
The clubs who missed the playoffs, however, are particularly noteworthy. And you’re not the only one who thinks this. It appears that the Gamecocks are being treated unfairly because South Carolina finished the regular season with a six-game winning streak and a better ranking than South Carolina. South Africa’s football is at its peak right now.
South Carolina was mentioned by a great coach and college football commentator while the ESPN College Gameday crew was selecting the teams for the College Football Playoffs and other important bowl games.
When choosing his squad, Corso stated, “South Carolina is the best team that is not in the playoffs.”
for the Gamecocks, who hope to win the bowl game once more and accomplish their tenth victory of the season for only the sixth time in program history.
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