South Carolina safety Nick Emmanwori is widely expected to be selected during the second day of the 2025 NFL Draft, with many projections pointing to the New York Jets as a likely destination.
The first round of the NFL Draft came and went on Thursday night without a single South Carolina player being picked, despite speculation that Emmanwori could be the top safety off the board. Now, eyes turn to day two, where ESPN draft analyst Matt Miller predicts the Jets will take Emmanwori with the 42nd overall selection in the second round.
“Safety might not be the Jets’ most pressing need in Round 2,” Miller wrote, “but passing on a top-20 talent like Emmanwori could be tough, especially for Aaron Glenn — a former NFL defensive back himself. If Emmanwori sharpens his ability to diagnose plays, he has elite potential.”
Emmanwori was a standout during his time at South Carolina, racking up 244 tackles, four tackles for loss, and six interceptions. A three-year starter, he made an immediate impact by starting 12 games as a freshman and quickly establishing himself as one of the SEC’s top safeties.
His stellar college career earned him plenty of recognition. In 2024, he was named a First-Team All-American by the Associated Press, earned unanimous first-team All-SEC honors, and was voted College Football Nation’s Safety of the Year. At the NFL Combine, he impressed scouts with elite measurables: standing 6’3″, weighing 220 pounds, and running a blazing 4.38 40-yard dash, along with a 43” vertical and an 11’6” broad jump.
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