“Nick’s a different guy, man, in every way,” said linebacker Ernest Jones IV, a fellow South Carolina product like Emmanwori. “His personality, he came into this team and this defense, and there’s a lot of different guys in that room, but he fit in just perfect. And he’s a freak, man. We look at him and be like, ‘Bro, there’s no way you’re 6-3, 200-something pounds and doing the things that you’re doing.'”

But physical traits aren’t enough to get the job done in the NFL, especially not when a coaching staff is asking you to play multiple positions as a rookie. And Emmanwori’s intelligence and desire to be great are also big factors in his ability to thrive in such a big role as a rookie.

“I think it’s a combination of things,” Macdonald said. “One, is just his overall intelligence allows him to do it. I think he’s really determined to not let his teammates down so he can be on his stuff. And he’s an ambitious guy, he’s competitive, he wants to make an impact while he’s out there. He understands that we want to let that come to life, so in order to do that, you’ve got to be on your stuff, be on your details. It’s a lot of time investment too that he’s willing to put in as well. So it’s a combination of things.”

As Macdonald explained, Emmanwori’s multiple roles on defense requires him to spend time with different position groups and different coaches. Safeties coach Jeff Howard and defensive passing game coordinator/defensive backs coach Karl Scott spend the most time with Emmanwori, but as Macdonald explained, defensive coordinator Aden Durde and outside linebackers coach Chris Partridge are also working with Emmanwori when it comes to the stuff he is doing at the line of scrimmage.

“This is kind of an all-hands-on-deck thing,” Macdonald said.

For Emmanwori, playing multiple positions is something he expected coming into the league, and it’s a challenge he is embracing.

“I think it’ s just more about soaking up the game,” he said. “I’m a young player, it’s my first year, but in my mind, I want to succeed so fast and succeed so bad, it’s like, I’ve got to take my time and just understand the details of the game and different aspects of, I’m playing different roles and just trying to be every-down player and every-situation type of player. So I’ve just got to understand that and just get better at that, which I think I’ve been doing.”

When it comes to lining up like a defensive end, Emmanwori said, “Yeah, that’s super new. As far as just getting keys for what’s going on, like, with the tackle, if the tackles fanning out, do this, or if he’s blocking out, do that. What to look for, my progressions and stuff, that’s super new. I never really did none of that stuff in college. In high school I rushed off the edge a little bit, dibble-dabbled in a little bit of stuff, so it’s not super new, but it’s petty new for me as far as the NFL level.”

And while it may seem like Emmanwori is taking on a big challenge as a rookie, he wouldn’t want it any other way.

“I think that’s just what I do honestly,” he said. “That’s just how I’ve always been all my life, just super multiple, kind of positionless, versatile, it’s just what I do.”