Nick Emmanwori NFL Draft 2025: Scouting Report for South Carolina S
HEIGHT: 6'3"
WEIGHT: 227
POSITIVES
— Rare size and movement combination for safety position. Looks closer to a modern day linebacker than safety.
— Run-first defender who plays strong in the box. Triggers very quickly downhill, filling running lanes.
— Very strong tackler who fronts up ballcarriers when he can, giving up minimal extra yardage at the point of attack.
— Quick feet in coverage with good transitions. Shows the ability to play as a two-high safety. Above average range and ball skills.
— Due to his physicality and size, he does well covering tight ends combined with the athletic ability in space to cover running backs.
NEGATIVES
— Narrowed vision at times. He doesn't always see the full play and can be slow to react.
— Lacks true range to be a centerfield safety.
— Rigid and choppy backpedal that looks more like a shuffle slide. Struggles to swivel his hips, opening like a swinging gate.
— Can panic at times when working downfield leading to him getting handsy and tug to maintain position.
2024 STATISTICS
— 12 Games 83 Tackles, 3 TFL, 4 INT, 6 PBU, 2 TD
NOTES
— Born Feb. 7, 2004
— Games Started: 35
— 3-Star recruit in the 2022 class, per 247Sports
— 2022 SEC All-Freshman Team
OVERALL
Nick Emmanwori is a physically imposing safety prospect with a rare blend of size and movement skills for the position. At 6'3" and 227 pounds, Emmanwori plays like a modern hybrid linebacker-safety, excelling in run support and physical matchups. His size, physicality, and athletic ability make him an intriguing prospect for teams looking for a versatile defender.
Emmanwori shows good quickness and transitions for his size, allowing him to function as a two-high safety, though he lacks the range to cover the entire field in deeper zones. His size and physicality make him particularly effective against tight ends and running backs, where his athletic ability in space is evident. However, his backpedal is rigid and lacks fluidity, often leading to issues with swiveling his hips and maintaining positioning against more agile receivers. When defending downfield, Emmanwori can panic and become handsy, leading to potential penalties in the NFL.
Emmanwori's strength is in run defense, where he triggers quickly downhill and maintains good leverage while tracking ball-carriers. His ability to sort through traffic and consistently fill running lanes makes him a standout box defender. He is also a powerful tackler who regularly limits yards after contact by meeting ball-carriers head-on. Despite his strengths, Emmanwori's narrowed vision can lead to missed plays, and he sometimes struggles to adjust his angles on the edge, allowing ball-carriers to escape contain.
Nick Emmanwori projects as an early-round pick with the potential to become a highly versatile defender, particularly in run-heavy defensive schemes or as a hybrid safety-linebacker. His size and physicality make him a perfect fit for matchups against tight ends and in-the-box play, though he will need to develop better coverage skills and range to maximize his potential at the next level.
GRADE: 7.9 (Potential Impact Player — 2nd Round)
OVERALL RANK: 28
POSITION RANK: S3
PRO COMPARISON: Divine Deablo
Written by B/R NFL Scout Cory Giddings
Prospect workout numbers, measurables (40-yard dash, hand size, etc.) and 2024 statistics will be added at a later date.
