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2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Nick Emmanwori (DB – South Carolina)

FantasyPros will be taking a look at early NFL Draft scouting reports before the Combine in March. Here’s a look at South Carolina defensive back Nick Emmanwori. And check out our entire 2025 NFL Draft Guide.

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2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Nick Emmanwori

Nick Emmanwori (DB – South Carolina)

6-foot-3 | 227 Pounds

Background

Nick Emmanwori was a three-star recruit and is a South Carolina local who predominantly played linebacker in high school. He was considered for that position in college, but he has played safety since his freshman year.

Stepped right into a starting role, recording 85 tackles and a breakup as a freshman. In 2023, he recorded 71 tackles, two interceptions and eight breakups. This past season, he posted 88 tackles, four interceptions (two touchdowns) and two breakups before declaring for the 2025 NFL Draft.

Positives

Three-year starter with consistent production and escalating year-to-year efficiency. Has excellent size for a pro safety. Primarily plays as a box safety, but has also taken extensive snaps as a high safety and a slot option. Plays with patience and sound technique in run support; does a good job of squaring up and reading his keys. Has a tough, physical temperament that’s well-suited to working in the box.

Emmanwori’s strong motor allows him to play with more range than anticipated given his size. He closes well when he finds a clear path to the runner. Was already a good tackler as a freshman, but has improved in each season and is now highly reliable, with tone-setting pop. Similarly, his coverage has made major strides. He recorded a 5:0 touchdown-to-interception ratio as a freshman, a 2:2 ratio as a sophomore and a 0:4 ratio as a junior, per Pro Football Focus (PFF).

Has quick feet to make spot drops into zone coverage as a high safety, with a responsible approach; does a nice job of minimizing the risk of big plays by getting sufficient depth and keeping things in front of him. Shows sound instincts when working from zone. Looks light on his feet when pattern-matching from a robber role. Has a lot of power in his hands to jolt and disrupt route runners on contact near the line of scrimmage. A smooth athlete with the frame and physicality to work against opposing tight ends. His ball skills have improved and he offers good length to disrupt throws.

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Negatives

Probably lacks the ideal range to play as a single-high safety and wasn’t asked to do so very much during the games reviewed. Emmanwori has a physical, athletic profile better suited to covering tight ends than smaller, quicker slot receivers. A slightly conservative approach at the stem creates opportunities for timing-based throws or tight ends to shield him from the ball.

There’s sometimes a slight hitch when transitioning to driving on a spot in coverage. More smooth than twitchy. Could be a little bit better about anticipating and working around congestion on pick plays. Ended up getting penalized five times this year. He could do a better job of calibrating his timing on breakup attempts.

Summary

A three-year starter with a much bigger build than usual for a safety, Emmanwori is a recent convert to the position and has made impressive strides over the past three years, with an excellent development trajectory. A willing run supporter with a strong motor and reliable tackling, he is much smoother and more versatile in coverage than is typical for players of his size.

While Emmanwori may never be an ideal single-high safety or man-coverage option for quicker receivers, he looks comfortable in Cover 2, robber roles and slot coverage against big receivers and tight ends. Those traits should have him off the board within the first 50 or so picks on Draft Day.

Projection: Round 1/Round 2

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