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SAFETY EVALUATIONS
Jalen Ramsey*, Florida St.
Super athlete and can keep up with people running “half speed” sometimes. Effortless in his movement skills. Is not an elite man-2-man cover corner against good receivers, but what he allows isn’t going to kill you. Decent technician but could get better. When allowed to break off man can be a scary and disruptive force in secondary and has quicks to jump routes all over his side of field. A playmaker that can play every spot in the secondary and allows for a lot of versatility in coverage. Top-10 pick.
Karl Joseph, West Virginia
Plays all over WVU’s secondary from deep centerfield to man-under coverage in slot. Violent player looking to make big hits and needs to wrap up more and improve tackling techniques. Looks very athletic in movement and can flip hips and run. Decent angles and closing speed on sideline routes in centerfield coverage. A bit undersized but has nice arm length and doesn’t play small. Coming off ACL tear in October and will have to pass medical. Round 1-2
Keanu Neal*, Florida
A big, well put together safety that played predominantly deep in Florida’s single-high or cover-2 system. Likes to see things in front of him and drive down on play (either in front or against the sideline). Is susceptible if asked to turn and cover or change directions and doesn’t have good hips to play too close to the line of scrimmage. Has size to support run, but often looks for the big hit in the 5-10 yard box area. Is not a bad prospect and has NFL size/athleticism, but is a bit limited in what system he’s capable of playing. Needs right fit. Round 2-3
Vonn Bell*, Ohio State
Playing for top program I’m surprised he’s not a better athlete. Solid deep half safety but lacks explosive qualities in his run support game. A “safe” safety and won’t hurt you on the back end much and can turn and run if caught out of position or over the top. I wouldn’t call him much of a playmaker and think he’ll be a step late getting turnovers at the next level. Very pedestrian tape vs. MSU. Round 3
T. J. Green*, Clemson
Very tall safety with exceptional straight line speed for position. Not enough sand in the pants and can’t get low enough to be much of impact in run support and too often tries to go around blockers rather than under. Being in the box or vs. run-heavy teams is a struggle for him (see vs. Alabama). His length and speed are very, very tempting as a deep centerfielder but needs experience and trust to be last line of defense. A very decent project in my opinion that could be plus player in 2-3 seasons. All the pieces are there. Round 2-3
Jeremy Cash, Duke
As far as true strong safeties, I think he’s the best of this year’s bunch. Likes to mix it up around the line of scrimmage and is quick and decisive on downhill decisions at the line of scrimmage. Makes plays and doesn’t let the play come to him but can also make some costly mistakes (play fakes, wrong gap) and was part of a very poor defensive unit. Will need a bit of work in coverage but looks the part of a solid special teamer and should find roll on defense after a year or two. System specific and is not a deep half player at this point of career. Round 3
Justin Simmons, Boston College
Very solid prospect to me. Legit last line of defense free safety that understands roll in pro-style defensive scheme. Adequate NFL athlete with good change of direction skills and is a very solid open field tackler. Might not be an elite playmaker but if you are looking for a steady, 10-year pro, I think he’s got that potential. Round 4
DeAndre Houston-Carson, William & Mary
Very limited film and all against D-II schools. Looks the part and has NFL physique/speed but not truly an elite athlete that normally propels D-II athletes into draft selections. I’m sure he’s got the intangibles teams like but jump in competition will be very difficult to calculate. Is a true hybrid safety that can play both spots and versatility will appeal to teams (and as compared to those safeties ranked in the middle rounds). I wouldn’t reach too hard for him however. Round 4-5
Jayron Kearse, Clemson
Super tall and long and almost identical evaluation to his teammate Green. Not as good an athlete as Green and even worse in run support (particularly angles, reading plays and gap responsibility). If only really effective as deep centerfielder in maybe a cover-1 look where his super length can make plays on the ball. Intriguing prospect but very one-dimensional in his NFL qualities. Round 4-5
Jalen Mills, LSU
Looks more like a slot corner than safety and often plays that roll in LSU’s defense. Tall and light in the pants. As a corner prospect he’s not all that bad. Nice height and length. Tested okay in speed and agility drills. Doesn’t show a lot of instincts for position and gets caught in no-man’s land too often. Versatility at playing some deep half FS might help cause but he’s a project athlete that will take a lot of investment to get return out of. Round 4-5
Miles Killebrew, Southern Utah
Funny build and plays much too high in his stance/tackling technique. Does not drive through tackles and lets plays come to him too often (see him get trucked over by small #6 of Sam Houston State). Not very good in coverage and rarely see him flip hips and run with anyone. Is more of a box safety/small linebacker prospect in the mold of Deone Buchanon and Shaq Thompson but isn’t nearly the athlete those guys are. Don’t see an NFL position for him. Round 5
Jalen Ramsey*, Florida St.
Super athlete and can keep up with people running “half speed” sometimes. Effortless in his movement skills. Is not an elite man-2-man cover corner against good receivers, but what he allows isn’t going to kill you. Decent technician but could get better. When allowed to break off man can be a scary and disruptive force in secondary and has quicks to jump routes all over his side of field. A playmaker that can play every spot in the secondary and allows for a lot of versatility in coverage. Top-10 pick.
Karl Joseph, West Virginia
Plays all over WVU’s secondary from deep centerfield to man-under coverage in slot. Violent player looking to make big hits and needs to wrap up more and improve tackling techniques. Looks very athletic in movement and can flip hips and run. Decent angles and closing speed on sideline routes in centerfield coverage. A bit undersized but has nice arm length and doesn’t play small. Coming off ACL tear in October and will have to pass medical. Round 1-2
Keanu Neal*, Florida
A big, well put together safety that played predominantly deep in Florida’s single-high or cover-2 system. Likes to see things in front of him and drive down on play (either in front or against the sideline). Is susceptible if asked to turn and cover or change directions and doesn’t have good hips to play too close to the line of scrimmage. Has size to support run, but often looks for the big hit in the 5-10 yard box area. Is not a bad prospect and has NFL size/athleticism, but is a bit limited in what system he’s capable of playing. Needs right fit. Round 2-3
Vonn Bell*, Ohio State
Playing for top program I’m surprised he’s not a better athlete. Solid deep half safety but lacks explosive qualities in his run support game. A “safe” safety and won’t hurt you on the back end much and can turn and run if caught out of position or over the top. I wouldn’t call him much of a playmaker and think he’ll be a step late getting turnovers at the next level. Very pedestrian tape vs. MSU. Round 3
T. J. Green*, Clemson
Very tall safety with exceptional straight line speed for position. Not enough sand in the pants and can’t get low enough to be much of impact in run support and too often tries to go around blockers rather than under. Being in the box or vs. run-heavy teams is a struggle for him (see vs. Alabama). His length and speed are very, very tempting as a deep centerfielder but needs experience and trust to be last line of defense. A very decent project in my opinion that could be plus player in 2-3 seasons. All the pieces are there. Round 2-3
Jeremy Cash, Duke
As far as true strong safeties, I think he’s the best of this year’s bunch. Likes to mix it up around the line of scrimmage and is quick and decisive on downhill decisions at the line of scrimmage. Makes plays and doesn’t let the play come to him but can also make some costly mistakes (play fakes, wrong gap) and was part of a very poor defensive unit. Will need a bit of work in coverage but looks the part of a solid special teamer and should find roll on defense after a year or two. System specific and is not a deep half player at this point of career. Round 3
Justin Simmons, Boston College
Very solid prospect to me. Legit last line of defense free safety that understands roll in pro-style defensive scheme. Adequate NFL athlete with good change of direction skills and is a very solid open field tackler. Might not be an elite playmaker but if you are looking for a steady, 10-year pro, I think he’s got that potential. Round 4
DeAndre Houston-Carson, William & Mary
Very limited film and all against D-II schools. Looks the part and has NFL physique/speed but not truly an elite athlete that normally propels D-II athletes into draft selections. I’m sure he’s got the intangibles teams like but jump in competition will be very difficult to calculate. Is a true hybrid safety that can play both spots and versatility will appeal to teams (and as compared to those safeties ranked in the middle rounds). I wouldn’t reach too hard for him however. Round 4-5
Jayron Kearse, Clemson
Super tall and long and almost identical evaluation to his teammate Green. Not as good an athlete as Green and even worse in run support (particularly angles, reading plays and gap responsibility). If only really effective as deep centerfielder in maybe a cover-1 look where his super length can make plays on the ball. Intriguing prospect but very one-dimensional in his NFL qualities. Round 4-5
Jalen Mills, LSU
Looks more like a slot corner than safety and often plays that roll in LSU’s defense. Tall and light in the pants. As a corner prospect he’s not all that bad. Nice height and length. Tested okay in speed and agility drills. Doesn’t show a lot of instincts for position and gets caught in no-man’s land too often. Versatility at playing some deep half FS might help cause but he’s a project athlete that will take a lot of investment to get return out of. Round 4-5
Miles Killebrew, Southern Utah
Funny build and plays much too high in his stance/tackling technique. Does not drive through tackles and lets plays come to him too often (see him get trucked over by small #6 of Sam Houston State). Not very good in coverage and rarely see him flip hips and run with anyone. Is more of a box safety/small linebacker prospect in the mold of Deone Buchanon and Shaq Thompson but isn’t nearly the athlete those guys are. Don’t see an NFL position for him. Round 5
