Live from Columbia: South Carolina’s Nick Emmanwori Rising as a First-Round NFL Draft Prospect
The buzz is real for Nick Emmanwori, the former South Carolina Gamecocks safety, as ESPN’s Mel Kiper has projected him to be a first-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. In Kiper’s latest mock draft, released Wednesday, Emmanwori is slated to go 19th overall to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
This puts Emmanwori in position to become the first USC defensive player taken in the first round since Jaycee Horn went eighth overall to the Carolina Panthers in 2021. Horn, notably, earned his first Pro Bowl nod this season, continuing a legacy of Gamecock excellence in the NFL.
Last year, standout wide receiver Xavier Legette was also a first-round pick, joining the Panthers.
Kiper’s Take: Emmanwori a Red-Hot Prospect
“Emmanwori has closed the gap to (Malachi) Starks in the safety rankings, and I considered him five spots earlier for the Colts,” Kiper wrote. “He has a big frame at 6-foot-3, 227 pounds, but he moves like a smaller defensive back. With four interceptions this season, including two pick-sixes, he’s going to be a red-hot prospect during the pre-draft process.”
Kiper’s mock draft also highlights Miami QB Cam Ward as the projected No. 1 overall pick to the Tennessee Titans, but Emmanwori is clearly carving his own spotlight.
A Legacy of Excellence at USC
A product of Irmo High School, Emmanwori has been a cornerstone for the Gamecocks over the past three seasons. Declaring for the draft earlier this month, the three-year starter capped his college career with 244 tackles, six interceptions, and a stellar first-team All-SEC selection this year.
This season, he led South Carolina with 83 tackles, continuing his reputation as a hard-hitting, dynamic playmaker. However, his collegiate finale raised some questions when he did not play in the second half of the Gamecocks’ bowl game loss to Illinois.
In his draft announcement, Emmanwori addressed the situation:
“As for the bowl, it was just some miscommunication between me and some coaches,” he wrote. “We weren’t on the same page. I’ll take some accountability for that … never intended for it to end like that and I never quit on my teammates.”
The Road to the NFL
Now fully focused on the next chapter, Emmanwori is training for the draft and is expected to receive an invitation to the NFL Draft Combine in February. With his combination of size, speed, and playmaking ability, he is primed to make an impact at the next level.
The 2025 NFL Draft is set to take place April 24-26 in Green Bay, where Emmanwori looks to join a growing list of Gamecocks making waves in the pros.
Stay tuned as this talented safety climbs the draft boards and prepares to make his mark in the NFL!
