Emmanwori Named to On3 Midseason True Freshman All-American Team

University of South Carolina safety Nick Emmanwori has been named to the Midseason True Freshman All-American Team, as selected by On3.

Emmanwori, a 6-4, 218-pounder from Irmo, S.C., was inserted into the safety position in the first series of the season following an injury to R.J. Roderick, and has played regularly since. He became the first member of the freshman class of 2022 to earn a starting assignment when he got the call at Arkansas in week two. He has been in double-figures in tackles twice this season, logging 11 stops at Arkansas and a game- and career-high 14 tackles versus Georgia, all solo stops. It marked the most tackles by a Gamecock since Ernest Jones collected 18 tackles at Ole Miss in 2020. Emmanwori leads the squad with 37 tackles, an average of 6.2 per game. The last freshman to lead the Gamecocks in tackles was Skai Moore in 2013.

Here’s what On3 said about Emmanwori:

“Nick Emmanwori has been an early season bright spot on South Carolina’s defense. The true freshman safety’s 31 solo tackles are more than double the next Gamecock defender. Emmanwori has played more snaps than any player on South Carolina’s defense and lines up at both free safety and in the box. He’s an athletic, big defender at 6-foot-4, 218 pounds and rarely misses tackles.

“A local prospect from nearby Irmo, South Carolina, Emmanwori earned an offer from South Carolina after a strong performance at the Gamecocks’ summer camp. He steadily rose in On3’s rankings on the heels of a huge senior season and ultimately finished as the No. 121 overall prospect in the On300 and South Carolina’s top-ranked signee.”