Measurables
- 6‘2 Height*
- 202 lb. Weight*
(*As Listed by Toledo, others list him at 6’3.5 & 210 lbs.)
2025 Stats
- 6/16 When Targeted (37.5%)
- 116 Yards Allowed
- 1 TD Allowed
- 2 INTs
- 5 Pass Breakups
- 44.8 Passer Rating Allowed
- 1 Penalty
- 43 Solo Tackles
- 28 Assist Tackles
- 14 Missed Tackles (16.5%)
- 5 Pressures in 6 Blitzes
- 2 QB Hits
- 1 Sack
- 2 Forced Fumbles
Awards/Accolades
- Associated Press Third Team All American (2025)
- Jim Thorpe Award Semifinalist
Strengths
- Powerful hitter with active hands searching for the ball. 10 Fumbles Forced in last 3 seasons.
- Big Box Safety who is physical in the run game. Strong run lane recognition and flies to the football.
- Tight End Eraser in Man Coverage.
- Strong instincts in zone, can read and bait QBs eyes well.
- Crashes underneath routes with force.
Weaknesses
- Tackling technique is sound, but missed tackles can occur from bad angles. Was more of an issue in 2025 than 2023-2024 (11 missed tackles in those two years combined compared to just 14 in 2025)
- Inexperienced as Single High Safety, can be a 2 high split safety but shouldn’t patrol the deep middle third alone.
- Backpedal can get choppy on rare deeper dropbacks. Looks smooth for 5-10 yard coverage drop backs, but past that the choppy backpedal hurts his ability to flip hips and recover pursuit to outside throws.
Draft Projection
Round 2 Grade
Emmanuel McNeil-Warren #42 Overall on my initial Big Board, and he could rise even higher going from MACtion level competition to competing with top prospects in Mobile Alabama. Scouts will be keying in on his practice reps and drills involving deeper dropbacks to see if he can have versatility beyond being a stout box safety. One of the top coverage Strong Safeties in the class, McNeil-Warren’s ability to matchup on Tight Ends is an invaluable trait that could make him a matchup nightmare in the modern NFL.
When he goes to Indianapolis for the Combine the big question he will need to answer is what was his mysterious injury that occurred in 2024. It was an unspecified injury that caused him to miss the last 5 games of the season for Toledo. Could it be related to his 2025 leg strain that he reportedly dealt with leading up to the Boca Raton Bowl (but played through)? Both injuries will have thorough examinations for NFL teams to learn more about and if either has any longer term effects on his performance. A clean bill of health from Combine doctors should help secure his stock as a Round 2 or better prospect.
A creative Defensive Coordinator who likes to use his Strong Safety in a variety of roles underneath and as a blitzer will have a lot of fun with Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, and opposing Offensive Coordinators conversely will have headaches trying to avoid him patrolling the middle of the field. Should Nick Cross leave in Free Agency, pairing McNeil-Warren with Cam Bynum would be a dynamic duo at safety for the Colts.
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