With 46 days until South Carolina football kicks off 2026, a look back at No. 46 Bryan Thomas Jr.

South Carolina football will take the field for the first time in 2026 on September 5 against Kent State. Williams-Brice Stadium will play host to the Gamecocks and Golden Flashes at 12:45 p.m., just 46 days from today. A handful of defensive players through the years have worn the No. 46 as standouts at South Carolina. In fact, one, EDGE player Bryan Thomas Jr., just graduated after playing for the Gamecocks from 2022 to 2025. Questions about this story? Kevin Miller is discussing it with subscribers on The Insiders Forum. Thomas, who is the son of long-time NFL linebacker/EDGE Bryan Thomas Sr., was a story of development and hard work. A three-star prospect, the younger Thomas earned his offer from South Carolina when he weighed less than 200 pounds. From then on, Thomas worked on his body, adding strength and size to go with his impressive athleticism and never-stopping motor as a pass rusher. He played some as a true freshman, as he readied himself for a bigger role. In 2023, Thomas was a part-time starter and an important rotational piece of the South Carolina pass rush. Showing himself to be more impactful than his size, he logged his first career sack and 22 tackles in his first year of major action. Then, as a junior, Thomas had an excellent showing as the Gamecocks’ third pass rusher behind Kyle Kennard and Dylan Stewart. His 4.5 sacks trailed only Kennard and Stewart, and he forced a fumble. Demonstrating how far he had come as an overall defensive lineman, Thomas had a huge play against the run in USC’s win against Clemson, blowing up a 4th-and-1 rushing attempt in what became a one-score victory. Thomas clearly earned his way into a starting role in 2025. He also was named a team captain. No. 46 had a big senior campaign with eight sacks and 11 tackles for loss. His three forced fumbles tied with Stewart for the team lead, as well. No one played harder than Thomas, as he helped lead a defense that outplayed many’s expectations. See other jersey countdown stories like this on GamecockCentral.com. Following his senior season, Thomas was honored as co-MVP, co-Most Outstanding Senior, and co-Defensive MVP, along with defensive tackle Nick Barrett. He also earned an All-SEC selection from the conference’s head coaches. The Jacksonville Jaguars signed Thomas after the 2026 NFL Draft. He continued working hard and made it through the summer rookie camps. The rest of the Jaguars will report next week, and Thomas will continue competing for a roster spot. He has drawn rave reviews so far in Jacksonville as one of the team’s top rookie free agent signings, and he will have a chance to stick with the organization if things go well for him.