South Carolina safety Nick Emmanwori is a wild card option for the Broncos in the first round of the draft

Safety Nick Emmanwori is reportedly a wild card option for the Broncos in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft.

One prospect who was recently called a wild card option for the Denver Broncos in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft is South Carolina safety Nick Emmanwori. He is a 6’3”, 220-pound safety who is viewed as the top safety in the draft and one of the top defensive players overall. The Athletic’s lead draft analyst, Dane Brugler, has Emmanwori graded as his 17th overall player in the draft and has him ranked as his number one safety in the draft.

Emmanwori played a total of three seasons at South Carolina and was among the best players on the team during his time there. During his three seasons, he appeared in 37 games and started in 36 of those games, and totaled 244 tackles, 4 tackles for a loss, 17 pass deflections, and 6 interceptions. This past year, he started in all 13 games and totaled 88 tackles, 3 tackles for a loss, 6 pass deflections, and 4 interceptions.

Player Profile

Nick Emmanwori | Safety | South Carolina

• Height: 6’3”
• Weight 220 pounds
• Hands: 9 1⁄4 inches
• Arm Length: 32 7/8 inches
• Wingspan: 78 5/8 inches
• Age: 21 years old
• 40-Yard Dash: 4.38 seconds
• 10-Yard Split: 1.53 seconds
• Vertical Jump: 38 inches
• Broad Jump: 11’6”
• Bench Press: 20 reps

Film Room

Scouting Report

• Elite size/speed/athleticism athlete
• Elite testing numbers at the combine
• Sideline to sideline player with great range
• Reliable wrap-up tackler who can handle one-on-one tackle attempts
• Physical player who isn’t afraid of contact
• Good run defender
• Thrives in zone coverage and showcases elite instincts and ball skills to come up with big plays
• Thrived near the LOS as well as in coverage in the secondary
• Fluid athlete who can mirror tight ends and running backs in coverage
• Playmaker with the ball in his hands (two pick 6’s in 2024 with another called back due to a penalty)
• Gives you versatility and a player who can play multiple positions
• Team Captain

Weaknesses

• Over-aggressive at times with his pursuit angles
• Can get a bit too physical and handsy in coverage
• Has been flagged for unnecessary roughness penalties in the past
• May not have the fluidity and coverage ability to go one-on-one with wide receivers

Nick Emmanwori’s RAS

What other analysts are saying about South Carolina safety Nick Emmanwori

The Athletic’s lead draft analyst, Dane Brugler, on safety Nick Emmanwori

*A three-year starter at South Carolina, Emmanwori was listed as a free safety on the depth chart in defensive coordinator Clayton White’s flex-nickel scheme, but he lined up primarily in the box with some slot and deep snaps. Because of injuries on the Gamecocks’ roster, he was thrust into the starting lineup as...