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With NFL Combine here, ESPN analyst calls South Carolina star his top player "to have an eye on" in Indianapolis

by: Kevin Miller02/25/25kevinbmiller52
South Carolina football junior defensive back Nick Emmanwori. Photo by: C.J. Driggers/GamecockCentral
South Carolina football junior defensive back Nick Emmanwori. Photo by: C.J. Driggers/GamecockCentral

This week, the NFL Combine will provide draft hopefuls from around the country an opportunity to improve their standing with NFL franchises. Players will have their official measurables taken, test athletically, go through interviews, and perform position-specific drills in front of NFL scouts, coaches, and decision-makers. This year, 11 South Carolina football products will be in Indianapolis for the event.

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Though he won’t do anything on the field until Friday, hype is building around one Gamecock already. This week, South Carolina All-American safety Nick Emmanwori picked up praise from several NFL Draft analysts, including ESPN’s Jordan Reid. According to Reid, Emmanwori is the “one player I would recommend having an eye on” at the NFL Combine.

Said Reid during an appearance on SportsCenter, “He’s going to put up some ridiculous testing numbers. I expect him–at 6-foot-3, 230 pounds–to run in the high 4.3s…jump 40+ in the vertical. He could exceed 11 feet in the broad jump.” Reid added that he thinks a big showing could help Emmanwori “potentially be the first safety off of the board.”

Emmanwori’s physical abilities are only matched by his on-field production. In three years with the Gamecocks, the Irmo native has proven himself to be an elite tackler. However, as a junior, he showcased improved coverage instincts and ball skills. His combination of run-stopping, coverage ability, and physical giftedness (also indicating possible improvement) should earn him a lot of money at the NFL level.

If taken in the first round, Emmanwori will become South Carolina’s first safety selected that high since the New England Patriots drafted combo defensive back Rick Sanford (who played safety full-time in the NFL) in 1979.

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The NFL Combine has begun in Indianapolis. Emmanwori and other South Carolina football alums will begin on-field workouts on Thursday. Stay tuned to GamecockCentral.com for combine coverage and updates.

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