Tonka Hemingway Selected by Las Vegas in the Fourth Round of the NFL Draft

University of South Carolina defensive tackle Tonka Hemingway was selected by the Las Vegas Raiders with the 33rd pick in the fourth round of the 2025 NFL Draft on Saturday. He was the 135th player taken overall.

Hemingway, a 6-2 7/8, 282-pounder from Conway, S.C, spent five seasons in Columbia, appearing in all 61 games, starting 28, during that span, matching Kai Kroeger for the most games played in school history. He logged 17.5 career tackles for loss with 9.5 sacks, 11 pass breakups, 19 quarterback hurries and six fumble recoveries. He scored two touchdowns and scored on a two-point conversion.

In 2024, Hemingway was recognized as a third-team All-SEC performer by College Football Nation. He was selected by the coaches as a co-winner of the Community Service Award and was named the first recipient of the Ray Tanner Award.

On the field, Hemingway was credited with 25 tackles including 4.0 tackles for loss, all sacks, during his final campaign. He added six quarterback hurries, two fumble recoveries, a pass breakup and a forced fumble.  He earned SEC co-Defensive Lineman of the Week honors for his efforts at Oklahoma where he logged a pair of stops including a tackle for loss and returned a fumble 36 yards to paydirt.

Hemingway, who earned his degree in public health, becomes the fifth Gamecock selected in the 2025 NFL Draft, joining second-round selections Nick Emmanwori, T.J. Sanders and Demetrius Knight Jr. and fourth round pick Kyle Kennard.

Hemingway is the second member of his family to be taken in the NFL Draft, joining brother Junior, who was taken by the Kansas City Chiefs in the seventh round of the 2012 draft.

He is the first Gamecock to be selected by the Raiders since Bryan Edwards was a third round pick in the 2020 draft.