South Carolina safety Nick Emmanwori addresses bowl game exit, announces NFL plans

South Carolina safety Nick Emmanwori addressed his controversial bowl exit and announced his future NFL plans on Thursday.

The public announcement. comes two days after he played only a half of the Gamecocks’ Cheez-it-Bowl game against Illinois. Emmanwori made his announcement official on his social media pages, labeled “Gamecock for Life. Until Death do us part.”

In his farewell post, he thanked family, friends, teammates, USC coaches including head coach Shane Beamer and Gamecock fans.

“Thank you for the support of a lifetime. You guys are the backbone of the program and best fans in the country. I’m glad we got to experience the journey together,” Emmanwori wrote.

Emmanwori also addressed the exit from the bowl game in a separate post, taking some of the blame for it.

“As for the bowl, it was just some miscommunication between me and some coaches. 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 apart of it,” Emmanwori wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

Emmanwori was on the sideline for at least part of the second half, seen tossing a football to himself and later celebrating with teammate Jalon Kilgore after the latter’s interception. But at some point in the second half, he was seen being escorted to the locker room by USC director of character Derrick Moore.

Beamer declined to discuss Emmanwori’s situation or why he didn’t play.

“It’s an internal team matter,” Beamer told reporters after the game. “I’m not going to discuss it.”

After the game, Emmanwori told the Post and Courier’s David Cloninger that he told his coach — which could mean safeties coach Torrian Gray, defensive coordinator Clayton White and/or Beamer — that he was only going to play a half.

“I swear I wouldn’t trade it for anything, the journey was amazing. I’m a little bittersweet about leaving, but I’m glad I got to suit up with the team one last time they meant a lot to me. I also appreciate the fans support over the last 3 years. The best fan base in the country you guys are passionate and invested about the Program in a good way. I’m glad I stayed home & came to South Carolina,” Emmanwori wrote.

Despite the controversial ending, Emmanwori was a force for the USC defense during his time with the program.

A mainstay at defensive back since he arrived on campus, the Irmo native started in 35 games for the Gamecocks, racking up 244 total tackles and a half-dozen interceptions. And while helping South Carolina to a 9-3 record this season, the 2024 All-SEC First-Team selection, led the Gamecocks in tackles (83).

Ever since he was named a Freshman All-American in 2022, it seemed like a strong possibility that Emmanwori would forego his senior season to enter the draft. And after his stellar 2024 campaign, Emmanwori might be a day-one pick.

A number of NFL mock drafts believe the 6-foot-3, 227-pound safety will be selected in the first round — which would make him the first Gamecock defensive back to go in the first round since Jaycee Horn in 2021.