Nick Emmanwori Scouting Report
By: Michael Higgins
(Image courtesy of David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
School: South Carolina
Class: Junior
Position: SAF
HT: 6’3
WT: 220 lbs
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Background: Nick Emmanwori was a 3-star safety in the class of 2022 out of Irmo, South Carolina. Emmanwori was a top 10 recruit in South Carolina and a top 50 safety in the class. Nick played primarily at inside linebacker for Irmo High School and earned first team all-state honors at the position as a senior. Nick Emmanwori chose to stay home and play for South Carolina over Charlotte, Georgia Southern, and Richmond.
College: Due to injury, Nick Emmanwori started right away for the Gamecocks in 2022. He earned Freshman All-American honors after leading the team with 85 tackles. In 2023, Emmanwori continued to fly around the defense. He started 11 games either at nickel or safety and recorded 71 tackles and 8 pass breakups. Emmanwori was a First Team All-American and unanimous First Team All-SEC selection in 2024 after recording 88 tackles and 4 interceptions.
Strengths: Nick Emmanwori is the benefit of a historic NFL Draft Combine. He proved himself to be the most athletically gifted player in the 2025 NFL Draft. Emmanwori possesses an elite combination of size, speed, and athleticism to patrol the entire field. Emmanwori can play up a weight class and line up at the nickel to cover tight ends. Nick is sticky in coverage with fluid coverage skills and prevents the tight end from out-muscling him. In zone, Emmanwori has incredible range to take away large portions of the field. He takes up such a large zone that it makes it hard for quarterbacks to deliver the ball in the deep areas of the field. He can make a play on a football from the opposite side of the field because of how much ground he can cover in the span of a couple seconds. Emmanwori brings the boom as a tackler. He finishes tackles with a sort of emphasis that sets the tone for the game. He has proper technique to wrap up and bring the ball carrier down, but he can also smack guys to the ground at the contact point.
Weaknesses: Tightness in movement and transition prevents Emmanwori from being projected as a full-time nickel at the next level. When flipping from backpedal to sprint in coverage, Emmanwori has a tough time transitioning and his movements in his lower body become stiff. Emmanwori focuses heavily on going for the football and he can take himself out of position at times.
Conclusion: Nick Emmanwori is an athletic anomaly, even in today’s NFL. He has unmatched movement ability and can do it all on the football field. He may not be the ideal man coverage player against receivers but he can shut down tight ends. Additionally, he is deployed as a missile at the line of scrimmage to get after the quarterback. He should be seen as a starter in the NFL within his first two seasons in the league.
Scheme Fit: Two High Safety
Ideal Role: STAR
Best Team Fits: LAC, DAL, LVR
Player Comparison: Kyle Hamilton
Player Grade: Round 2 (87.2)
