Latest news with #NickEmmanwori
New York Times
22-05-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Nick Emmanwori is embracing Kam Chancellor comps. Will the Seahawks use him the same way?
Nick Emmanwori doesn't shy away from the comparisons to star safeties with similar physical profiles, nor the expectations that come with them. Derwin James, Kyle Hamilton, Kam Chancellor — it's all fair game to the Seattle Seahawks' rookie defensive back. 'I love those expectations,' said Emmanwori, so coveted by the Seahawks that they traded up to draft him with the 35th pick. 'But, of course, I'm going to make my own imprint on the league.' Advertisement Emmanwori wants to make a name for himself in the NFL, but he's also aware of the legacy created by the previous iteration of star defensive backs in Seattle, and he wants to restore that feeling. On draft night, Emmanwori used the word 'dogs' to describe teammates Julian Love, Coby Bryant, Riq Woolen and Devon Witherspoon. 'We're looking to recreate the Legion of Boom,' the 6-foot-3, 220-pound Emmanwori said. 'Especially if I can fit in with the Kam Chancellor type of role.' Emmanwori has heard Chancellor comparisons since college. His position coach at South Carolina, Torrian Gray, was also Chancellor's defensive backs coach at Virginia Tech. Gray long considered Chancellor, who was 6-3 and around 230 pounds by the time he entered the NFL, a once-in-a-generation talent, given his abilities at that size. Then he laid eyes on Emmanwori at one of South Carolina's camps, working out as a linebacker. Enticed by Emmanwori's speed, Gray had to see if he could backpedal smoothly enough to play defensive back. Gray put Emmanwori to the test. The high schooler backpedaled, flipped his hips and hauled in a pass. That one rep was all the evidence Gray needed: another once-in-a-lifetime player. 'You're getting a generational-type guy as far as a body type,' Gray said of Emmanwori during a KJR-FM radio interview on May 1. 'He's a different breed.' Chancellor was recruited to Virginia Tech as a quarterback, then moved to cornerback before transitioning to strong safety and, later, free safety. He was a fifth-round pick in 2010, in part because the latter position wasn't his strong suit, and he posted underwhelming athletic testing ahead of the draft. On draft night, Seattle said Chancellor was out of position as a free safety and felt he was at his best coming downhill, defending the run and covering the underneath areas as opposed to matching up with wide receivers in the slot or playing deep centerfield (Seattle drafted Earl Thomas, a free safety, in the first round that year). Advertisement The Seahawks' projection for Emmanwori is similar. Coach Mike Macdonald mentioned safety, nickel and linebacker when forecasting Emmanwori's spot in the defense. That might sound like a utility defender, but all of those roles are second-level alignments based on the situation. Basically, the Seahawks want to put Emmanwori near the action. This was reflected in how Emmanwori was used during two rookie minicamp practices at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center earlier this month. Whether operating as a true box safety or a 'big nickel' defender, Emmanwori was near the line, keying the run, guarding tight ends and receiving instruction from Macdonald and his assistants in between reps. It's far too early to project Emmanwori having a Chancellor-level impact on Seattle's defense; Chancellor was a rare talent at the position and flew around like a battering ram with cleats. However, Macdonald can borrow from the way the coaching staff found a role that accentuated Chancellor's strengths and hid his weaknesses. Emmanwori appears to be at his best when he can eye his assignment through the play, then drive on the ball. He ran the 40-yard dash at the scouting combine in 4.38 seconds — the same time as running back Ken Walker III — with a 1.53-second 10-yard split (just three hundredths of a second slower than Walker, despite being taller and heavier). Emmanwori's straight-line speed and burst allow him to be a difference-maker. The first play from scrimmage against Oklahoma last season was an interception, one of two Emmanwori had in the game. Emmanwori, the safety near the far hash in the video above, has only one threat to his side of the field after the pre-snap motion, and he is able to key on that receiver the whole way. Advertisement After initially flipping his hips toward the sideline, Emmanwori opens up and runs with the receiver across the field (South Carolina's edge rusher beat the tight end to provide a nice assist), sprinting from the far hash to the near numbers to make the diving grab. Bryant had an interception in a very similar situation against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 14 of 2024. Safeties with range, closing speed and ball skills are legitimate weapons. Here's another example against LSU. Emmanwori, at the top right of the screen wearing No. 7, is matched up against inside receiver Kyren Lacy. He eyes the wideout the entire way and beats Lacy on the out-breaking route, leading to a checkdown, which Emmanwori rallies to and tackles for a short gain. The very next play shows why it might be best to try to keep Emmanwori in a position where everything is in front of him. He creeps into the box ahead of the snap but is late recognizing the over route from the opposite side of the field after the play-action fake. Emmanwori's speed allows him to catch up with Lacy before the ball arrives, but he doesn't get his head around and draws a defensive pass interference flag (he was then off the field for the next couple of snaps). Emmanwori had a similar issue on LSU's game-winning drive. Aligned as the boundary safety before rotating toward the line at the snap, he struggles to backpedal, flip his hips and track another over route from Lacy, ending up faceplanting while the receiver made the catch near the goal line. This is an area Emmanwori might be able to clean up, but it would make sense to focus on weaponizing his straight-line speed and to limit assignments that require high-level hip flexibility. Gray said he was 'very confident' when putting Emmanwori on a tight end in man coverage. But, Gray said, if Emmanwori's technique and fundamentals are on point, he can win against receivers, too. 'A taller, bigger wideout who is probably not going to be crazy shifty,' Gray said. 'I do like his chances there.' The video above shows instances of both situations. The first clip is a third-and-2 snap against Texas A&M. Emmanwori rotates from his safety spot to the line to match up against slot receiver Jabre Barber, who runs a whip route. As Barber sticks his foot in the ground to work back to the ball, Emmanwori does the same and uses his length and athleticism to force a tight throw that fell incomplete. The next clip features Emmanwori, at the bottom of the screen, in man-to-man coverage against Oklahoma tight end Bauer Sharp on third-and-4. Emmanwori is patient, then triggers to close the space and pop Sharp near the line to gain. Seattle's scheme will likely match Emmanwori with tight ends more often than receivers, but regardless, his man-to-man skills should shine when he comes on the field for sub packages in critical situations. Emmanwori's run defense when aligning near the line of scrimmage or rotating pre-snap appears to be better than his run support when playing deep (as The Athletic's Dane Brugler noted in 'The Beast,' Emmanwori made a habit of taking bad angles). Because of that, playing primarily in the box should suit him well. The clip above shows a pre-snap rotation into the box on second-and-2, but it's an example of what Emmanwori can bring in the run game when he's able to trigger quickly. Advertisement Emmanwori is talented enough to have been a first-round pick, which made it frustrating for him when his name wasn't called on opening night. He already played with energy and competitive fire, and slipping to the second round added new motivation. 'I'mma show the rest of the teams that passed on me,' Emmanwori said. 'I can't wait to show them what type of player I am and just make 'em regret it.' (Photos of Kam Chancellor, left, and Nick Emmanwori: Otto Greule Jr, Jacob Kupferman / Getty Images)
USA Today
19-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Seahawks took a new direction in 2025 NFL draft and it shows
Seahawks took a new direction in 2025 NFL draft and it shows The Seattle Seahawks entered the 2025 NFL draft with a clear strategy. Long-time general manager John Schneider is still acclimating to how second-year head coach Mike Macdonald wants to build the roster. Furthermore, offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak is the new play-caller, leading to additional changes in how the Seahawks acquire talent. It appears the Seahawks targeted athleticism all throughout the 2025 NFL draft. First-round guard Grey Zabel is an athletic and versatile blocker. Second-round safety Nick Emmanwori put forth one of the most breathtaking performances at the NFL Combine in recent memory. The strategy remained in place all throughout the draft. Sixth-round guard Bryce Cabeldue is a 99th percentile athlete for the position. Pro Football Focus recently made note of this approach. "Seattle focused on elite athleticism throughout the 2025 draft, stockpiling explosive prospects across multiple positions as the franchise transitions into a new era," Dalton Wasserman recently wrote. "Offensive lineman Grey Zabel brings rare versatility, having played all five positions along the line during his career at North Dakota State. Safety Nick Emmanwori enters the league as one of the most dynamic and athletic defensive backs in recent memory." "Tight end Elijah Arroyo brings big-play potential as a vertical threat, leading the FBS with 16.9 yards per reception last season," Wasserman continued. "And at quarterback, the Seahawks added the most athletic signal-caller in the class in Jalen Milroe — a true dual-threat weapon with game-breaking ability. With speed and flexibility now infused into the roster, Seattle is clearly building a more dynamic and unpredictable offense for the future." The Seahawks showcased a shifting strategy during the 2025 NFL draft. Schneider, Macdonald, and Kubiak want to revamp the roster with outstanding athletes. It was mission accomplished, following the additions of talents like Zabel, Emmanwori, Cabeldue, and Jalen Milroe.
Yahoo
03-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Pre-Snap Reads 5/3: Nick Emmannwori looking to make an impact
In Today's Links: with all the Jalen Milroe hype, Seaside Joe chats on Sam Darnold; are our Seattle Seahawks underdogs, or are we slated to finish where logic persists in the NFC West, a few more quick reviews of our draft class, and so forth. Have a happy Saturday! Thanks for being here. Seahawks News Sam Darnold is Kubiak's first CHOICE! - Seaside Joe Why the relationship between QB and OC is important and other Seahawks questions Advertisement Seahawks rookie Nick Emmanwori aims to earn Russell Wilson's No. 3 | The Seattle Times With jerseys being handed out this week, rookie Nick Emmanwori chose No. 3, fully understanding what the number means in Seahawks' history. Wait – why are Seattle Seahawks longshots to win NFC West? - Seattle Sports After going 10-7 and losing out on the NFC West title thanks to a measly fifth tiebreaker, the Seattle Seahawks are... longshots to win the division. How Huard envisions Seattle Seahawks using Nick Emmanwori - Seattle Sports Former NFL quarterback Brock Huard explains the intriguing ways the Seattle Seahawks could use second-round draft pick Nick Emmanwori. 'I Feel Like We Have One Of The Best Draft Classes': Takeaways From Day 1 Of Rookie Minicamp - Seahawks rookies suited up for the first time for rookie minicamp and spoke with the media. Advertisement Takeaways From Seattle Seahawks First Rookie Minicamp Practice — Emerald City Spectrum Taking advantage of a sunny day in early May, Seahawks rookies hit the practice field for the first time on Friday with Jalen Milroe and Nick Emmanwori leading a surprisingly smooth minicamp session. Seahawks rookie camp Day 1: Jalen Milroe takeaways - The Athletic "The way he throws the ball, the way he moves, he has a chance to be an elite quarterback at the highest level," Elijah Arroyo said. NFC West News The 49ers Could Start Six Rookies on Defense in 2025 - Sports Illustrated 49ers News, Analysis, and More The 49ers may have reached for some of their draft picks this year, but at least six of them will have an opportunity to start on defense next season. Advertisement Rams' Les Snead on Utilizing Multiple Running Backs in 2025 - Sports Illustrated Rams News, Analysis, and More The Los Angeles Rams running game was good last season. But in 2025, we want to improve that by keeping fresh legs on the field. That is why the Rams drafted a new running back in the 2025 NFL Draft. Extra first rounder could help Rams as soon as 2025 - Turf Show Times Rams GM Les Snead has even more reason to be aggressive at the trade deadline Elijah Simmons is a fireplug nose tackle that could help the Arizona Cardinals - Revenge of the Birds The Arizona Cardinals could find their young nose tackle in undrafted free agency. Three Takeaways From Arizona Cardinals' Impressive Draft - Sports Illustrated Cardinals News, Analysis, and More These three things stood out about the Arizona Cardinals' draft. Around The NFL Marshawn Lynch-approved selection of RB Ashton Jeanty may seem like a Raiders home run — but it's also in defiance of several NFL trends - Yahoo Sports The Raiders became just the fourth team since 2000 to spend first-round draft picks on tight end and running back within two years, data from TruMedia and NFL Research found. Advertisement Salary-cap guru Mark Levin exits NFLPA after 37 years - NBC Sports Mark Levin, the NFL Player Association's director of salary cap and agent administration, has ended his 37-year run with the union. How Cam Ward beat the odds to become the No. 1 draft pick - ESPN Tennessee made Ward the No. 1 pick on draft night, but his journey started long ago in Texas. New York Jets show dedication to QB Justin Fields in draft - ESPN The Jets signed Fields in free agency to replace Aaron Rodgers as their starter. 2025 NFL Draft: Ten perfect player-team fits - How good can Colston Loveland be in Ben Johnson's offense in Chicago? Bucky Brooks identifies 10 perfect player-team fits coming out of the 2025 NFL Draft. Advertisement Eagles GM Howie Roseman on repeating as Super Bowl champs: 'We understand that 2025 is a new year, and we haven't won a game yet' - Philadelphia Eagles general manager Howie Roseman has built a sustainable roster, led by quarterback Jalen Hurts, that is in position to be more than a one-year marvel. NFL Draft grades: An analytical look at the biggest winners and losers - The Athletic Too many draft grades leave out too much context. We're accounting for everything, including pick value, position value and trade value. Ranking 10 worst QB rooms in NFL and predicting who will start in Week 1: Steelers, Colts, Browns on top - A look at the league's worst quarterback depth and which QB will emerge to start 2025 NFL rookies poised to start in Week 1 - PFF While the class' top prospects are all but locks to start, some later picks will also slot in early in their NFL careers. Advertisement More from
USA Today
03-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Nick Emmanwori hopes to \
Nick Emmanwori hopes to "live up to" the No. 3 jersey The Seattle Seahawks revealed jersey numbers for their rookies, and easily the most notable one is the fact safety Nick Emmanwori is wearing No. 3 - made famous by Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson. No. 3 has not been in the rotation since Wilson left following the 2021 campaign, making it a bold move by Emmanwori to select it. Emmanwori's decision does seem to be born out of necessity, to a degree. He wanted to wear No. 7, which is what he rocked at South Carolina. However, No. 7 is currently being occupied by linebacker Uchenna Nwosu. After already switching his jersey once this offseason by giving No. 10 to Cooper Kupp, I can't imagine Nwosu was keen on doing it again. So No. 3 it is, for Emmanwori, who hopes to earn the number for himself. Admittedly, it will take some adjustment getting used to seeing No. 3 back on the field, and on the defensive side of the ball as well. Still, I believe Emmanwori is taking the right approach here. Certain jersey numbers carry a lot of weight and significance, and No. 3 helped reach special heights for the Seahawks franchise. Now it has an opportunity to help write another potentially special chapter of Seattle sports history. Respect the past, but embrace the future.
USA Today
03-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Seahawks nearly traded up even higher for Nick Emmanwori
Seahawks nearly traded up even higher for Nick Emmanwori The Seattle Seahawks got aggressive during the 2025 NFL draft, trading the 52nd and 82nd picks to the Tennessee Titans to move up 17 spots in the second round to 35th overall. With that selection, the Seahawks selected former South Carolina safety Nick Emmanwori. It turns out general manager John Schneider nearly traded up even higher to ensure Emmanwori's services. ESPN's Brady Henderson is reporting the Seahawks nearly traded back into the first round, to No. 32 overall in order to select Emmanwori. The final pick of the first round was originally owned by the Super Bowl winning Philadelphia Eagles. They ended up trading one overall with the Kansas City Chiefs, who selected former Ohio State offensive tackle Josh Simmons at No. 32. After Seattle's failed trade up to No. 32, Schneider had to hold his breath for two additional selections before finding his opportunity. The Cleveland Browns selected linebacker Carson Schwesinger at No. 33, and the Houston Texans followed that up with wide receiver Jayden Higgins. Schneider then found a willing partner in the Titans, a rebuilding team who was without a third-round selection as a result of their trade for cornerback L'Jarius Sneed last offseason. Tennessee was anxious to recoup that draft capital, and the Seahawks were willing to part with an extra pick to land Emmanwori. Luckily, it worked out perfectly.
