USC coaches have used their camp settings the past couple of weeks to eyeball some players off the mainstream recruiting radar. One of those was Irmo SAF Nick Emmanwori (6-4 195). Prior to Friday when he worked out for Shane Beamer and defensive coordinator Clayton White, Emmanwori did not have a Power Five offer. The Gamecocks changed that after he turned in an impressive performance.
“Yesterday was a good day. I came into camp and I performed well in all my testing,” Emmanwori said “I performed well in the vertical jump, did good in the board jump and my 40-yard dash was good. And then we went outside and we did one-on-ones. I performed well in the one-on-ones. I was first in every rep.”
White and Emmanwori have been in touch for several weeks. It was just a matter of Emmanwori getting in front of him in camp to solidify what White must have already been thinking.
“Coach White was the coach who texted me first a while ago, and he told me I was on his radar,” Emmanwori said. “He watched my film and he liked what he saw, and he wanted me to come out to camp and showcase my skills. The relationship we built has been a good relationship. He’s been transparent. He’s been keeping up with me real good. He said he sees a lot in me. He can see me playing the nickel position, a little-backer and a big-nickel position type.”
After doing his thing Friday, Emmanwori was taken aside by Beamer and White, and they delivered the good news to him that they wanted him to be in their program.
“The feeling at the moment was surreal,” Emmanwori said. “I put a lot of work into it. The moment, it was real surreal and I was just taking it in. I’m thankful for the opportunity for letting me come down to camp and showcase my skills. I feel like I have a lot more to show.”
Charlotte, Georgia Southern and Richmond are the other offers at the moment for Emmanwori. It’s no surprise the Gamecocks leapfrogged past those three as the favorite for the hometown son.
“Right now, South Carolina is my number one,” Emmanwori said. “They offered me and it wasn’t like a commit on the spot. I could talk to my family and stuff. They want me to come to South Carolina, but I’m just playing it out right now. But they are my number one.”
Last season Emmanwori totaled 100 tackles with 8 tackles for loss, 3 sacks and 2 interceptions.
