South Carolina football's all-time top 10 safeties

With spring practice over for South Carolina and summer moving along, Gamecock fans now have less than two months before their favorite team takes the field for a game. To help bridge the gap (along with all of the recruiting coverage and summer updates you can read on GamecockCentral.com), GamecockCentral will be running a top-10 players by position series.

First, we took a look at the all-time great USC running backs.

Then, we voted on the best Carolina wide receivers in program history.

Following that up, we examined the top Gamecock tight ends.

Next, it was all about determining the top offensive linemen ever to block in Columbia.

The final offensive position we looked at was the quarterback spot.

Then, we moved on to the defensive side of the ball, specifically the best defensive tackles in team history.

Three weeks ago, defensive ends/EDGEs were the topic of discussion.

After that, we shifted away from the defensive line and checked in on the linebacker position.

Last week, a loaded cornerback group had our attention.

Now, this week, our attention moves to the other primary secondary spot, the safety position. For the purpose of this exercise, some nickels and spurs, especially ones who also saw snaps playing over the top, were considered.

Chris Clark, Wes Mitchell, and I have put together our own top 10 lists. Many of the Gamecock Faithful on The Insiders Forum also have taken part in a two-part voting run this week.

Not every good coverage player could make the lists. Really good players like Ben Washington, Bryant Gilliard, Bo Davies, Tyler Hellams, Pat Bowen, and DeAndre Eiland were part of the conversations, despite not making the top 10s.

The results of all the voting are below, including a note on each player mentioned:

Be in the know about all things Gamecocks for just $1 for 7 days—lock in this special offer!

Chris Clark

1. Nick Emmanwori
2. DJ Swearinger
3. Ko Simpson
4. Rashad Faison
5. Brad Edwards
6. Rick Sanford
7. Antonio Allen
8. Tony Watkins
9. Devonte Holloman
10. Darian Stewart

Why Nick Emmanwori is No. 1: “Yes, Nick E’s measurables – and even his NFL upside – are out of this world. But this is a guy who stepped in as a true freshman and was immediately one of the best players on the field on any given Saturday. His game also consistently grew during his time in Columbia, and he was a talented multitool player in the secondary the likes of which we may not see again.”

Wes Mitchell

1. Ko Simpson
2. Nick Emmanwori
3. Rashad Faison
4. Brad Edwards
5. DJ Swearinger
6. Rick Sanford
7. Antonio Allen
8. Greg Philpot
9. Tony Watkins
10. Devonte Holloman

Why Ko Simpson is No. 1: “It’s hard to decide between Nick Emmanwori and Ko Simpson, and both have the resume to back up being selected No. 1, but I’m going to try to go against some recency bias and select Ko. In addition to being a great tackler, Simpson was the best middle-of-the-field ballhawk I’ve ever seen in the Garnet and Black and was a two-time All-American. Emmanwori only played one more year, so I’m not going to let the fact Simpson only played two completely derail his case for No. 1.”

Kevin Miller

1. Nick Emmanwori
2. Rashad Faison
3. Ko Simpson
4. Brad Edwards
5. DJ Swearinger
6. Antonio Allen
7. Rick Sanford
8. Greg Philpot
9. Devonte Holloman
10. Tony Watkins

Why Nick Emmanwori is No. 1: “Emmanwori was the best combination of back-end coverage ability and in-the-box tackling in South Carolina history. He also has an argument as the best pure athlete to play in Columbia. With those attributes, he made plays that others simply couldn’t. The local kid had two great seasons before dominating last fall on a really good defensive unit.”

The Insiders Forum

Votes in parentheses

1. Nick Emmanwori (61)
2. DJ Swearinger (59)
3. Brad Edwards (47)
4. Devonte Holloman (43)
5. Darian Stewart (41)
6. Ko Simpson (40)
T-7. Antonio Allen (35)
T-7. Rick Sanford (35)
9. Emanuel Cook (21)
10. Arturo Freeman (18)

Get USC Gamecocks app notifications

Notes on the Gamecock Greats

Nick Emmanwori: Nick Emmanwori went from under-the-radar local commitment to first-team All-American in a span of three years. An athletic freak, he was one of the country’s top defensive freshmen in 2022 before becoming one of the best overall players in college football in 2024. On that path, the Irmo High School product improved each year he was on campus. Emmanwori led the Gamecocks in tackles twice and then developed into an elite coverage player in his final year. He earned early second-round selection from the Seattle Seahawks in the 2025 NFL Draft.

DJ Swearinger: The swag that stirred the drink, DJ Swearinger wasn’t as highly regarded as some of his defensive teammates (Jadeveon Clowney, Stephon Gilmore, etc.), but the 2010-2012 defenses wouldn’t have been the same without their vocal leader. Swearinger was known for delivering big locker room and sideline speeches but even bigger on-field hits. His All-SEC selection as a senior provided some tangible validation for the fact that the Greenwood, South Carolina native was one of the best Gamecock safeties ever.

Brad Edwards: Brad Edwards was part of the 1987 “Black Death Defense,” and, that season, he was one-half of the best single-season combination ever at safety alongside Greg Philpot. Edwards earned two All-South Independent honors with the Gamecocks and an All-American selection alongside Philpot in ’87. That year, Edwards led South Carolina in tackles (130) and also in interceptions (8). His most iconic play came that season when he sealed USC’s win over the rival Clemson Tigers with a Williams-Brice Stadium-rocking pick-six.

Devonte Holloman: Sometimes overshadowed by other All-SEC safeties defensive backs in the same secondary (Stephon Gilmore, DJ Swearinger, Darian Stewart) Devonte Holloman was a great player in his own right who did his job well for four seasons. Playing every possible secondary spot at some point in his career, Holloman spent the majority of his time playing safety or a hybrid safety/linebacker role at the spur position. He became the first Gamecock ever to log 200 tackles, seven interceptions, and 15 tackles for loss. He also had some of his best performances against Clemson, snagging three of his seven interceptions against the Tigers.

Darian Stewart: Darian Stewart played alongside Emanuel Cook for three seasons, splitting duties between safety and spur. The duo made crossing the middle of the field a dangerous proposition for opposing receivers. When Cook left for the NFL, Stewart made the All-SEC squad in 2009. The future NFL Pro Bowler was a big play machine throughout his time at South Carolina, perhaps best illustrated by his big tackle for loss and pass breakup on two of the final three plays to seal a victory over Ole Miss in 2009.

Ko Simpson: A two-year player for the Gamecocks following a redshirt in 2003, Simpson was a stud. Had he been in garnet and black for longer, he would be the easy choice for tops at his position. He earned All-American designation in both years on the field, something that no other Gamecock safety can claim. Simpson earned SEC Freshman of the Year honors by leading the league in interceptions in 2004. The following year as a redshirt sophomore, he led the conference in pass breakups. Had it not been for knee and leg injuries, he likely would have played a long time in the NFL.

Antonio Allen: Antonio Allen was a versatile player with a knack for making big plays. After settling into the hybrid spur position for the Gamecocks, he then became a two-time All-SEC performer who made the 2011 All-American team. In 2010, Allen made Clemson’s Memorial Stadium cry tears of orange with exiting Tiger fans with his third-quarter pick-six. Then, with defensive touchdowns in the first two games of the 2011 season, he and defensive lineman Melvin Ingram became the first Gamecock defensive duo ever to find the end zone in back-to-back weeks.

Rick Sanford: Seeing time at both corner and safety, Rick Sanford was at his best at safety, hence the New England Patriots selecting him in the first round of the 1979 NFL Draft to play the position. The first-round selection was the first ever among Gamecocks. Despite missing some time with an injury, Sanford was an All-American for Carolina in 1978. That year led into a good NFL career that included an All-Pro selection in 1983. At 99 yards, he set the Soldier Field (home of the Chicago Bears) record for longest interception return.

Emanuel Cook: Emanuel Cook was one of the hardest-hitting Gamecocks ever. Splitting his time with Darian Stewart at both safety and spur, the Florida native made a pair of All-SEC squads. Cook led South Carolina in tackles in both 2007 and 2008. His sophomore season in 2007 was his best as he logged 92 tackles, including 4 sacks, and 8 more tackles for a loss while also knocking away 5 passes and picking off 3 more. An academic issue ended his career a year early, making Cook’s career a bit of a “what-if.”

Arturo Freeman: An elite athlete at safety, Arturo Freeman was a Freshman All-SEC contributor on a bad defense in 1995. Then, he put together back-to-back All-SEC campaigns before an ACL tear caused him to miss the ’98 season. He came back in 1999 but wasn’t able to replicate his previous success as he worked his way back from the knee injury. After getting fully healthy, Freeman played six years in the NFL.

Rashad Faison: Rashad Faison wasn’t very big (listed at just 5’10” or 5’9″ for most of his career), but he played big. He was a ferocious tackler who finished his career with the most solo stops of any player in team history. An All-American in 2001, Faison also owns the program record for defensive back tackles for loss (27.5) and non-cornerback passes defended (25). Faison was also an elite special teamer who blocked a kick, returned another block for a score, made countless tackles as a gunner, and even converted a fake punt first down.

Greg Philpot: Greg Philpot wasn’t quite as popular as safety-mate Brad Edwards, but he was an excellent player, too. Both Philpot and Edwards earned All-American distinction in 1987. Philpot’s best year, though, might have been his redshirt sophomore effort in 1985. That year, he led the team with 115 tackles and six interceptions. It was the first of three consecutive first-team All-South Independent honors for Philpot.

Tony Watkins: The quintessential hard-hitting safety of the 1990s, Tony Watkins was a bad man. The Rock Hill native was a four-year starter who averaged 90 tackles per season in garnet and black. He led the Gamecocks in tackles three times from 1992 to 1994. Watkins is fifth all-time in overall tackles, the only defensive back in the top five.

Discuss South Carolina football on The Insiders Forum!