Next first-round Gamecock? Mel Kiper, ESPN’s NFL Draft expert, offers his prediction
ESPN’s Mel Kiper released his first 2025 NFL Mock Draft on Wednesday and one South Carolina football player was on it.
The longtime NFL Draft pundit has Gamecocks safety Nick Emmanwori projected to go in the first round, 19th pick overall, to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Kiper’s mock draft is just for the first round.
Emmanwori is trying to become the first USC defensive player to go in the draft’s first round since Jaycee Horn was picked eighth overall by the Carolina Panthers in 2021. Horn was selected to his first Pro Bowl this season.
Gamecocks WR Xavier Legette went in the first round last year to the Panthers.
“Emmanwori has closed the gap to (Malachi) Starks in the safety rankings, and I considered him five spots earlier for the Colts,” Kiper wrote. “Emmanwori is going to be a red-hot prospect throughout the predraft process. He has a big frame at 6-foot-3, 227 pounds, but he moves like a smaller defensive back. He picked off four passes this season (2 pick-sixes), and he could fit in nicely for the Buccaneers’ defense.”
Kiper has Miami QB Cam Ward as his No. 1 pick, going to the Tennessee Titans.
Emmanwori, a standout at Irmo High School, was a three-year starter for the Gamecocks and announced earlier this month that he was declaring for the NFL Draft. He was a Freshman All-American in his first season and was first-team All-Southeastern Conference selection this year for the Gamecocks.
Emmanwori started 35 games for USC in his career, racking up 244 total tackles and a half-dozen interceptions. He led the team with 83 tackles this season.
Emmanwori made news during USC’s bowl game against Illinois by not playing in the second half. He addressed that during a post he made declaring for the NFL Draft.
“As for the bowl, it was just some miscommunication between me and some coaches,” Emmanwori wrote. “We weren’t on the same page. I’ll take some accountability for that ... never intended for it to end like that and I never quit on my teammates. Still one hell of a season to look back and celebrate glad I was a part of it.”
Emmanwori is already training for the draft, according to his post on his Instagram page this week. He should receive an invite to next month’s NFL Draft Combine.
The NFL Draft is set for April 24-26 in Green Bay.
This story was originally published January 22, 2025 at 10:21 AM.
