NFL Draft analyst compares South Carolina star to NFL All-Pro, projects as top-20 pick
South Carolina football has a good chance of breaking its program record for players selected in a single NFL Draft. The previous record of seven selections (in both 2009 and 2013) is in real jeopardy as 12 total Gamecocks will participate in the NFL Combine in a couple of weeks.
Join GamecockCentral: $1 per week for the first year
NFL Draft analyst Matt Miller of ESPN is hopeful that one Gamecock in particular will choose to do a full workout in Indianapolis. According to Miller, if All-American safety Nick Emmanwori takes part in all of the physical testing, he will be so impressive that NFL decision-makers won’t be able to resist taking him with a high pick.
Said Miller on ESPN’s Tuesday edition of SportsCenter, “Write this one down. Nick Emmanwori–the safety from South Carolina–to give you an NFL comparison, this is Derwin James 2.0.” He added, “[Emmanwori] is 6-foot-3, 225 pounds, and he looks and plays like he was created in a laboratory. Because at that size, he has run up to 23 miles per hour on GPS tracking. He has a 42-inch vertical jump, he has a 565-pound squat. Oh, and by the way, he can do 24 reps of 225 pounds. All those numbers are things we love to track and monitor at the NFL Scouting Combine.
“So I’m hoping and praying we get to see a full workout from the South Carolina true junior, who I think has a shot to be a Top-20 pick in this year’s first round once it’s all said and done. He is an ideal fit for so many teams that need that answer for tight ends and mobile quarterbacks at the safety position.”
Win tickets to USC-Clemson baseball (Sunday game in Columbia)
Always an athletic freak with big-time tackling instincts, the 2024 version of Emmanwori added to his game. This season, he displayed much better coverage skills and showcased elite after-the-pick return ability. Because of his more well-rounded game, Miller is not alone in his love for the Gamecock star as a prospect.
Top 10
- 1New
Paul Finebaum
CFB is at very dangerous point
- 2Hot
Bracketology update
No. 1 seeds change in update
- 3Trending
Stolen cars
Carson Beck, Hanna Cavinder cars stolen
- 4
Texas football
Longhorns cancel spring game
- 5
CFP seeding
SEC, Big Ten make hopes clear
Get the On3 Top 10 to your inbox every morning
By clicking "Subscribe to Newsletter", I agree to On3's Privacy Notice, Terms, and use of my personal information described therein.
ESPN’s Mel Kiper, several analysts from CBS Sports, and NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah all have projected the Columbia-area native as a first-round selection in this spring’s draft. NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein also has labeled Emmanwori as an eventual “plus-starter” at the NFL level.
The Miller comparison to Derwin James has been a common one this offseason. Other analysts also have compared him to Kyle Hamilton. Considering James and Hamilton are All-Pro contributors for the Chargers and Ravens, respectively, the player comps are high praise.
Get USC Gamecocks app notifications
The NFL Combine will begin February 27th and run through March 2nd. The long weekend in Indianapolis could go a long way in bolstering Emmanwori’s draft stock. This year’s NFL Draft will run from April 24th to April 26th in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
Fellow Gamecocks like TJ Sanders, Kyle Kennard, and Demetrius Knight also have earned high draft grades. While Emmanwori and Sanders have much better chances of coming off the board in the first round than Kennard and Knight, all four USC standouts have picked up at least one first-round grade from major outlets. The Carolina defenders could all be taken in the draft’s first two days (rounds one through three).
