Photo courtesy of the Seattle Seahawks
By Thomas Grant Jr.
Former Irmo and University of South Carolina safety Nick Emmanwori is off to a fast start in the NFL.
The rookie safety earned league Week 10 Rookie of the Week honors. Emmanwori was recognized for his effort in the win over the Arizona Cardinals.
In the 44-22 victory, Emmanwori led the team with nine tackles and passes defensed (4). He also added in his first sack of the season.
“My first sack, it felt good,” he said afterwards. “I was hoping I was getting my first sack (Nov. 2) against the (Washington) Commanders, but I was real close. It was my whole point this week to get a sack, and I’ve been working with AD (Aden Durde) and (Justin) Hinds and CP (Chris Partridge) about blitz techniques and how to get the dude down.”
Since returning from an ankle which kept Emmanwori out of three games, he has tallied 31 tackles, 0.5 sacks, six passes defensed, three tackles for loss and one quarterback hit.
“Nick (Emmanwori) had a great game,” Seahawks head coach Mike McDonald said. “We’re moving him from two different spots right now and thinking about maybe another spot. There’s attention to detail on those things.
“It’s easy to call a lot of the things that we’re putting him into because you have a lot of confidence in him being able to execute those things, and there’s room for improvement. I haven’t talked to him since we watched the tape, but it’s interesting to hear what he thinks about a couple of those plays where I think he can play a little bit better.
“To me right now, it’s a marginal game thing with Nick. How can I just keep chiseling away at my game like with Drake, so I can just be that more decisive, that more anticipatory, play ahead of play is a little bit more, and then his talent will come to life.”
Seattle travels to Los Angeles Sunday for a first-place matchup in the NFC West division.
