Emanuel is a fifth-year senior who established himself as a fine free safety. He played both strong and free safety during his career but found a home at the free safety position. During his time with the Bruins, he started 39 of his final 42 games with six starts at strong safety and 33 at free safety. His strengths are his speed and athleticism. His cousin, Bert Emanuel, a NFL wide receiver for Tampa Bay and Atlanta, played as a reserve quarterback at UCLA in 1990 prior to transferring to Rice.

Emanuel played free safety at Clear Brook High School. He was a two-time first-team all-district and all-state performer, a SuperPrep Elite 50 selection and rated the nation's No. 11 prospect. He was accorded SuperPrep All-America honors and was rated the No. 2 defensive back in the nation. He was also named SuperPrep Southwest Defensive Player of the Year, in addition to picking up PrepStar and Student Sports All-America accolades, and was a finalist for Houston Touchdown Club's Defensive Player of the Year Award. Emanuel was also a two-time unanimous all-district selection.

During his prep career, he made 13 interceptions. As a senior in 1999, he made 90 tackles, including six for losses, had four interceptions and recovered three fumbles. As a junior, he made seven interceptions, returning two for scores. Emanuel also lettered in track for coach James Smith. As a senior in 2000, the track team was 22AAAA district champions. In 1999, he ran on the 4x100 relay team (40.6) which won the district championship. He also was a forward on the basketball team.

Emanuel redshirted in 2000 at UCLA. He started three games at strong safety in 2001, making 14 tackles (9 solos) and intercepting two passes. He began the 2002 season as the starting strong safety, but moved to free safety after the third game. Emanuel finished that year with 58 tackles (43 solos), a fumble recovery, four interceptions and five pass deflections.

He started the first 12 games of the 2003 campaign, but missed the Silicon Valley Classic when he was suspended for a violation of team rules. He still managed to finish fourth on the team with a career-high 80 tackles (48 solos), two fumble recoveries, a forced fumble and an interception. In his final season, Emanuel totaled 76 tackles (46 solos) with two stops for losses, four pass deflections and an interception. Through 48 games, he made 228 tackles (146 solos) with five stops for losses of 13 yards, three fumble recoveries, a forced fumble, 11 pass deflections, a blocked kick and eight interceptions for 108 yards in returns and two touchdowns.

ANALYSIS

Positives: Has an even proportioned frame with good upper body muscle definition and room to add more bulk … Effective at reading and diagnosing the plays in front of him, reacting with no hesitation … Has the foot speed and flexibility in his hips to redirect … Shows steady acceleration in the open … Fluid and controlled coming out of his backpedal, showing proper hip turn … Adequate working in the short-area zone, using his recovery speed to stay on the hip of the tight ends and handles the switch-offs with good awareness … Times the pass and will compete for the ball at its high point … Has soft and natural hands for the interception, extending his arms to reach and pluck the ball … Plays at a low pad level and takes proper angles to the ball in pursuit … Opens his hips and flows to the ball, coming out high and effortlessly in his backpedal … Can turn and run with little gather in transition … Times his leaps well to get to the ball on fade routes.

Negatives: Needs to play with more toughness … While he makes plays in front of him, he struggles to react to the deep ball and fails to find the receivers on the deep routes … Will let wideouts get behind him on the deep ball … Has limited experience in man coverage … Shows open field quickness, but it takes him a bit to get into stride … Has decent range and takes good angles to the ball, but does not generate much power behind his tackles … At times, he will actually turn down tackles, grabbing at the receiver or diving for their feet rather than wrapping and securing … Can be fooled by head fakes, which momentarily takes him out of position … Shows some willingness in run support, but looks timid trying to work through blocks in order to meet the ballcarrier at the line of scrimmage … Grab tackler with no pop on contact … Lacks good anticipation to the ball and routes.

AGILITY

Campus: 4.58 in the 40-yard dash … 4.56 20-yard shuttle … 11.68 60-yard shuttle … 7.51 three-cone drill … 36-inch vertical jump … 10-foot long jump. Combine: 4.65 in the 40-yard dash … 2.74 20-yard dash … 1.64 10-yard dash … 31 3/8-inch arm length … 9¼-inch hands … Bench pressed 225 pounds 21 times.

HIGH SCHOOL

Attended Clear Brook (Friendswood, Texas) High School, playing football for coach Jim Hatfield … Played free safety … Two-time first-team all-district and all-state, a SuperPrep Elite 50 selection and rated the nation's No. 11 prospect … Accorded SuperPrep All-America honors and was rated the No. 2 defensive back in the nation … Also named SuperPrep Southwest Defensive Player of the Year, in addition to picking up PrepStar and Student Sports All-America accolades, and was a finalist for Houston Touchdown Club's Defensive Player of the Year Award … Two-time unanimous all-district selection … During his prep career, he made 13 interceptions … As a senior in 1999, he made 90 tackles, including six for losses, had four interceptions and recovered three fumbles … As a junior, he made seven interceptions, returning two for scores … Lettered in track for coach James Smith … As a senior in 2000, the track team was 22AAAA district champs … In 1999, he ran on the 4x100 relay team (40.6) which won the district title … Also was a forward on the basketball team.

PERSONAL

History major … Cousin, Bert Emanuel, was an NFL wide receiver for Tampa Bay and Atlanta, and played as a reserve quarterback at UCLA in 1990 prior to transferring to Rice … Son of Benjamin and Sandra Emanuel … Born Benjamin F. Emanuel II on June 18, 1982 in Texas City, Texas … Resides in Friendswood, Texas.