Dawn Staley & Raven Johnson Share Emotional Posts About Nick Emmanwori's NFL Draft

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Steph Dwilson | Last updated Apr 26, 2025 4:04 PM ET

The South Carolina Gamecocks football team is celebrating a large number of players being picked in the NFL Draft. And women's basketball coach Dawn Staley is celebrating right alongside them. She picked out one player in particular to shout-out: Nick Emmanwori.

Staley posted on X on April 25, replying to a message by Raven Johnson and Emmanwori: "Yeah yeah yeah NICK!!! @Eman7Nick Let ‘em know and go HAWKS!"

Johnson, a guard with the Gamecocks women's basketball team, was sitting next to Emmanwori when he got the news about being drafted by the Seattle Seahawks, Greenville Online reported. Emmanwori was selected No. 35 overall.

Johnson celebrated the great news on Instagram. She a posted a photo with Emmanwori, writing: "Seattle got a good one!"

Emmanwori replied to Johnson: "Yo turn next year."

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Raven Johnson (@hollywood_raven)

Chloe Kitts replied, "look who finally popped out."

The post and replies prompted speculation from fans that Johnson and Emmanwori were officially revealing a dating relationship. One person wrote, "Am I outta the loop, or is this the hard launch?"

Another person replied, "about damn time brothaaaa !! iktr happy for yall ❤️!"

And another person wrote, "Ohhh it’s like that?! SAY LESS!! LOVE IT!"

Quite a few Gamecocks football players have already gotten great news during the draft.

Tonka Hemingway was drafted No. 135 overall to the Las Vegas Raiders.

Kyle Kennard was drafted No. 125 overall to the Los Angeles Chargers.

Demetrius Knight Jr. was drafted No. 49 overall to the Cincinnati Bengals.

T.J. Sanders was drafted No. 41 overall to the Buffalo Bills.

And Nick Emmanwori was drafted No. 35 overall to the Seattle Seahawks.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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