Nick Emmanwori is a junior defensive back and a team captain for South Carolina's football team. Declaring for the draft on Jan. 2, Emmanwori was a three-year starter for the Gamecocks, starting in 36 out of 37 career games.
Emmanwori posted a team-high 88 tackles and 57 solo tackles this past season, along with four interceptions, two of which he returned for touchdowns, to go along with two pass breakups.
A standout junior campaign led to Emmanwori receiving First-Team All-American and consensus First Team All-SEC honors, in addition to being a semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe Award, an award given to the best defensive back in college football. Emmanwori was also one of the three Gamecocks recognized for the Joe Morrison MVP award, given to the team's best defenders.
Coming out of Irmo High School in South Carolina, Emmanwori was a three-star recruit who became a freshman All-American in 2022, where he totaled 85 tackles, including 62 solo tackles.
Strengths
Emmanwori frequently showcases his elite range and instincts, allowing him to make plays sideline to sideline as not only a hard hitter but a sure tackler as well, only missing seven tackles this past season.
His size and speed make him a huge presence defending the edge, along with his ability to make plays on mobile quarterbacks. Emmanwori is seen as an high prospect at the next level per NFL.com.
While physical gifts are evident, his high football IQ gives defensive coordinators great freedom to move him anywhere in the formation. Playing linebacker in high school, he has been effective in playing nickel and safety for the Gamecocks.
His versatility was on full display this past season in a win against Oklahoma, where Emmanwori had 11 total tackles, two interceptions and a touchdown.
In a win against No. 23 Missouri this past season, Emmanwori put up 11 total tackles, marking his sixth career game with at least 10 tackles. His career high in tackles came in his freshman year against No. 1 Georgia when he totaled 14.
As a three-year starter, Emmanwori has played 2,261 career snaps. The thing that sets him apart in a star-studded defensive class is his video game-like measurables. Coming in at 6 feet, 3 inches tall and 227 pounds , Emmanwori’s size is uncommon for the safety position. Mixing that with a 42-inch vertical and a 565-pound squat, Emmanwori is seen as the number one player to watch at the combine and was named to Bruce Feldmens "Freak List" for the best athletes in college football per the Athletic.
Weaknesses
Due to his size, Emmanwori can be seen as stiff in convergence and has trouble flipping his hips. This has raised concerns about him being able to stick with the quick-twitch slot receivers in the NFL, according to NFL.com and NFLDRAFTBUZZ.
According to NFL DRAFT BUZZ, while Emmanwori has shown prowess in making plays at the catch point, he has the tendency to rely on his athleticism rather than technique. At the next level, some scouts believe that while his physical gifts have sufficed in college, where he lacks in coverage will be exposed by opposing offenses.
There is no question that he can become an every-down player and has the ability to wreck games, but there are times when he will take plays off which can negatively impact the game. He also tends to give up too much ground when being blocked in addition to relatively poor pursuit angles when tracking ball carriers, per NFL.com.
Draft Outlook and NFL Fits
Emmanwori has been compared to Washington Commanders safety Jeremy Chinn and All-Pro safety Kyle Hamilton from the Baltimore Ravens by various writers at ESPN. His rare combination of size and speed has turned heads. Emmanwori is set up to be a surefire first-round pick, but an impressive showing at the combine could vault him into the top 20.
Coming in as the No. 2 safety according to ESPN's Mel Kiper, Emmanwori will be looking to fill the void of one of the most critical positions in football. Current draft projections have the Bills, Vikings, Colts and Seahawks as potential landing spots for the potential first safety drafted in April.
Due to lacking impact players in the secondary, the Bills ranked 24th in passing yards per game in 2024. They also struggled to get off the field last season with opponents converting 44% of third downs, ranking them at 30th in the league. Emmanwori would provide an immediate spark to an already solid Bills defense.
With multiple defensive backs set to hit free agency, the Vikings are another suitor for Emmanwori with the 24th overall pick. Coming off a year where Minnesota won 14 games in the 2024-25 season despite ranking 28th in passing yards allowed per game, Emmanwori could help Minnesota take the next step in becoming a Super Bowl contender.
The Indianapolis Colts lacked any type of consistency in 2024, leading to one of the worst defenses in the NFL, ranking 26th in passing yards allowed24th in rushing yards allowed per game. Based on Emmanwori's production and a big showing at the combine, the Colts could fill a major hole with the 14th overall pick.
The Seattle Seahawks hold the 18th overall pick, and head coach Mike Macdonald has shown his schematic creativity, turning players such as Kyle Hamilton into a multiple-time Pro Bowler and First Team All-Pro in 2023. With similarities in play style, Emmanwori would fit perfectly into Macdonald's defense.
What’s next?
Emmanwori is scheduled to take part in the NFL Combine starting Thursday, Feb. 27, through March 2. Emmanwori will be joined by 10 other Gamecocks in Indianapolis, Indiana.