In recent years, the safety position has been downgraded in priority, and zero safeties were selected in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft. To strengthen their coverage, teams prefer to draft cornerbacks. However, there is a safety that has created some serious buzz with evaluators that might break through into being a first-round prospect. That player is South Carolina’s Nick Emmanwori.
“This guy is freakish athletically,” said a pro personnel director. “He’s big, instinctive, and his athletic and coverage ability is crazy for a guy his size.”
The 6-foot-3, 227-pounder has been a steady contributor for the Gamecocks the past two seasons. In 2023, he had 71 tackles, 10 passes broken up, and two interceptions in 11 games. The previous season, he totaled 85 tackles as a freshman. In my latest 2025 NFL Mock Draft, I have Emmanwori breaking through and going in the back half of the first round. If Emmanwori stays consistent to his sophomore performance, he could grade out as a first-rounder for next April’s draft.
