A rare-sized, rare-fast South Carolina safety who nearly won Defensive Rookie of the Year while helping Seattle win it all.
Nick Emmanwori's blend of 6-foot-3 size and elite speed made him one of the most talked-about defensive prospects in the 2025 draft, and Seattle grabbed him with the 35th overall pick. He wasted no time validating that hype, becoming an instant playmaker in Mike Macdonald's defense during a rookie season that ended with a Super Bowl ring.
Path to the league
Emmanwori started 36 of 37 games over three seasons at South Carolina, earning Freshman All-American honors in 2022 and First-Team All-American recognition in 2024. He finished his college career with 244 tackles and six interceptions, two of which he returned for touchdowns. The Seahawks selected him with the 35th overall pick, the third selection of the second round, in the 2025 NFL Draft, making him the first Gamecock drafted that year.
Career highlights
Emmanwori's rare combination of size and top-end speed for the safety position drew comparisons to some of the most athletically gifted defensive backs in recent draft classes. His three-year college resume, headlined by the 2024 First-Team All-American season, established him as a high-upside playmaker before he ever took an NFL snap.
2025 season recap
Emmanwori finished his rookie regular season with 81 tackles, 2.5 sacks, 11 pass breakups and an interception across 14 games, production that made him a finalist for Defensive Rookie of the Year before he finished runner-up to Cleveland's Carson Schwesinger. He added 13 tackles and four pass breakups in three postseason games as Seattle won Super Bowl LX, capping an immediate-impact debut season.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Nick Emmanwori
- Pro Football Reference: Nick Emmanwori
- University of South Carolina Athletics: Nick Emmanwori selected by Seattle in the second round
Statistics
2025 season and career2025 Season · Defense
14 games played▶Defense · career
| Year | Team | GP | TOT | SOLO | SACK | INT | FF | FR | PD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | seahawks | 14 | 81 | 56 | 2.5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 11 |
Player Profile
Background
- Position
- Safety
- Group
- defense
- College
- South Carolina
- Hometown
- Irmo, SC, USA
- Age
- 22
- Status
- active
