The good news keeps rolling in for Seattle Seahawks’ rookie safety Nick Emmanwori.

Just five days earlier, it was feared the former Irmo High School and University of South Carolina All-American would miss time for the second time in his brief NFL. He left last Thursday’s overtime win over the Los Angeles Rams in the fourth quarter with what was initially feared as a concussion.

On Tuesday, Emmanwori confirmed head coach Mike Macdonald’s announcement that he had cleared concussion protocol. He also said he could have returned to the game if the Seahawks had another defensive possession. 

Emmanwori now comes back to the Carolinas this Sunday with Seattle to face the Panthers. Awaiting him are 15-20 family members and friends cheering he and the Seahawks’ efforts to win the NFC West. 

“I’m going to be 100 percent good to go,” he said. “Just a little…got shaken up on the play. Just landed on my back, kind of slashed, nicked in the head, but it was alright though. Cleared and everything was good to go. I was good to go to come back in the game.” 

After missing a month of action with a high ankle sprain suffered in the season-opener, Emmanwori has made a strong case for NFL Rookie of the Year. In 12 games, he has 50 tackles, 2.5 sacks, an interception and blocked field goal. 

He’s accomplished by displaying a high level of versatility. Whether playing corner or deep safety in the secondary or staying upfront as an edge rusher or at nickel, Emmanwori has become the team’s “Swiss Army Knife”. 

“I think it’s kind of just been just me being able to do everything and the mix of coaches putting me in the right position and them coaching me…just landing in the right spot,” he said. “You know, if I was probably on a different team, they probably would have me doing me one thing, or just playing safety, or just had me slowly going into a role. But here, you know, I think they pretty much see I could do everything, and how I felt confident with being able to play in different positions and stuff. So, it’s just worked well.” 

Emmanwori credits Irmo head coach Aaron Brand as the first person to make a personal impact. It shows in the Yellow Jackets making back-to-back Class 5A Division II appearances and sending players like wide receiver Donovan Murph (South Carolina) and quarterback A.J. Brand (Virginia Tech) to Division I universities. 

With two games left, Seattle is in position to clinch a title in what Emmanwori calls “the best division in football”. 

The Seahawks (12-3) have a one-game lead over the Rams and San Francisco, whom they close out the regular season against on the road.  

“I mean, as a team, you know, if you look at the stats, we travel well,” he said. “Fans travel well.  We travel well as a team. We dominate on the road. But that doesn’t mean we’re gonna go out there and win. It just means we have great preparation. We’ll go on the road, and we’re kind of ready for any challenge. 

“But you know, it’s December football. So, this is when people make their cheese and earn their check. So, it’s going to be good for our team to go through these weeks right here.” 

Sunday’s game for Emmanwori has the vibe of a “home” game. In addition to the family and friends in attendance, he faces a Carolina roster with five former Gamecocks. 

“It’s going to be interesting,” he said. “It’s going to be a little bit of smack talk, but just friendly banter, a little bit really, because a lot of those guys, like, way older than me, and kind of looking at them as older, older, no, like older friends. People I looked up to when I was a little bit younger, watching them play at Carolina, especially Jaycee (Horn) and (Xavier) Legette and Rico (Dowdle)… and Bam Martin-Scott’s on the team, too. I played with him.  (NOTE: Linebacker D.J. Wonnum is also on the Carolina Panthers’ roster) 

“It’s going to be a Columbia Homecoming for sure. We’ve got Ernest Jones over here too. So, it’s going to be a great showing of Gamecocks out there.”