South Carolina Gamecocks safety Nick Emmanwori came into the 2024 season projected to go on Day 2, but after an outstanding junior season, he’s solidified himself as a potential first round pick.
His stock has continued to rise through the NFL Combine, as he posted eye-popping numbers and led all defensive backs in several categories.
S Nick Emmanwori NFL Draft Projections
Emmanwori is everything that teams are looking for in prototypical safeties with the way the game has changed in recent years.
He’s an extremely versatile player with the ability to play in the box but also moves sideline-to-sideline in coverage with ease. His size is a major plus, as he measured in at 6’3″, 220 pounds at the combine with 32 1/2″ arms.
On tape, he looks as imposing at the safety position as his measurables suggest—straight up, Emmanwori has a dog mentality on the field. He’s a tireless player, using all of his energy on each and every play.
Add on that he has tremendous ball skills—he recorded four interceptions and returned two for touchdowns in 2024—and route-reading abilities, and Emmanwori is amongst the top group of safeties in this class.
One of his main weaknesses is caused by those very physical skills that make him so great; he tends to over-rely on his athletic traits, at times differing from his technique and attempting to overpower his opponents. While that worked at a high level in college, it won’t work nearly the same way against pros.
That shouldn’t be a huge worry for NFL organizations, however. Emmanwori is only 21 years old and will be that age for his entire rookie season, giving himself and the team he lands with a long runway for sustained success.
The South Carolina safety has first-round pick written all over him.
Considering his height and weight, Emmanwori blew away scouts and analysts alike with his blistering 40-yard dash time.
When it was all said and done, the Gamecocks’ safety clocked in with an official mark of 4.38 seconds—the 17th-best time out of all prospects and the second-best amongst safeties.
Top 10 2025 NFL Draft SAF Rankings: Malaki Starks, Nick Emmanwori Offer First-Round Potential
It didn’t stop there. His 43″ vertical jump and 11’6″ broad jump were the best of any prospect at the combine, solidifying Emmanwori as a world-class athlete.
If he reaches his potential, he will be terrorizing NFL offenses for years to come.
- Pro Football Network: Round 1, Pick 24
- CBS Sports: Round 1, Pick 24
- 33rd Team: Round 1, Pick 24
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