Scouting Blog
Scouting Notes on Safeties
By: Ed Hunt
Darnell Savage, FS, Maryland #1 FS
-great instincts
-can help a lot in run support
-decent in coverage
-playmaker
-more of a free safety
Taylor Rapp, FS, Washington #2 FS
-great instincts
-can play in the box
-very good tackler
-plays a lot more zone
-his specialty is not man coverage
-very good centerfielder
Khari Willis, FS, Michigan State #3 FS (Underrated)
-good open-field tackler
-can play the deep zone
-more of a free safety
-physical covering in the slot
-good man cover skills
Nasir Adderley, S, Delaware #4 FS
-good in run defense
-can tackle well
-his best fit is as a free safety
-decent instincts
-played a lot of zone coverage
Dionte Thompson, S, Alabama #5 FS
-sometimes spears when he tackles
-plays the deep zone well
-is capable of blitzing
-average instincts
-very good open field tackler
-played both strong and free safety
-good run defender
Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, FS, Florida #6 FS
-beast as a blitzer
-needs better instincts
-good in coverage in the slot
-hard hitter
-needs to get off blocks better in run support
-best fit is as a free safety where he can cover and blitz
Mike Edwards, FS, Kentucky (underrated) #7 FS
-more of a free safety
-good instincts
-decent in coverage
-competent tackler
-injured at Pro Day
Juan Thornhill, SS, Virginia #1 SS
-more of a strong safety
-can help in run support
-good ball skills
-decent in coverage
-can play the deep zone
Mike Bell, SS, Fresno State #2 SS
-good instincts
-can help in run support
-ballhawk in zone
-good in coverage
-average tackler
Andrew Wingard, SS, Wyoming #3 SS (Underrated)
-good speed on tape
-needs to get off blocks better
-great instincts
-good open field tackler
-good personality
-needs to be more physical in coverage
-good potential as far as staying in phase
-played in-the-box
Saquan Hampton, SS, Rutgers #4 SS (underrated)
-needs to get off blocks better
-good instincts
-very good tackler
-functions in coverage
-can play the deep zone
-not asked to blitz a lot
Darius West, S, Kentucky #5 SS
-more of an in-the-box safety
-needs to work on his open field tackling
-good instincts
-can help in run support
-decent in coverage
-hard hitter
Jonathan Abram, SS, Mississippi State (overrated)
-played in the box
-average instincts in zone
-asked to blitz; good pass rusher
-not very good in coverage
-handsy in coverage
Malik Grant, SS, Marshall (Sleeper)
-good in run support
-average instincts
-good tackler
-decent in coverage
-player who hustles to the football through the whistle
D’Cota Dixon, FS, Wisconsin (Sleeper)
-very good instincts
-good tackler
-average in coverage
-centerfielder is his role
-will help in run support
Will Harris, FS, Boston College
-more of a free safety
-functions well in the deep zone
-does well in coverage
-needs better instincts
-doesn’t do much in run support
Jaquan Johnson, SS, Miami
-average in coverage
-capable of bringing pressure on the blitz
-needs better instincts in run support
-capable tackler
-more of a strong safety
Marvell Tell III, S, USC
-free safety
-competent tackler
-could be better in deep zone
-can cover in the slot
-hard hitter
Marquise Blair, SS, Utah
-more of a strong safety
-needs better instincts
-solid in run support
-hard hitter
-average in coverage
Jojo McIntosh, SS, Washington
-good open field tackler
-average instincts
-can help in run support
-decent in zone coverage
-not asked to play man coverage
Zedrick Woods, SS, Ole Miss
-decent in man coverage
-average in run support
-played a lot of deep zone
-don’t love his instincts
-average tackler
Amani Hooker, FS, Iowa
-bad tackler
-physical in coverage in the slot
-good man coverage ability
-average instincts
-functions in run support
Mark McLaurin, FS, Mississippi State
-decent tackler
-physical in slot coverage
-needs more strength to overcome blocks
-needs more speed in coverage
-average instincts
Justin Clifton, LB/S, Arkansas State
-played a lot in the slot
-not a great run defender
-played in the box some
-can show some decent instincts
-has like a hybrid linebacker position
-hard to define his role in the NFL
Lukas Denis, FS, Boston College
-good instincts
-good run defender
-needs better ball skills
-not a great open field tackler
-mostly a zone defender in BC’s defense
Chris Johnson, FS, North Alabama
-good ball skills
-good zone instincts
-hard hitter
-still have questions about how he would do against top competition
Jalen Young, FS, Florida Atlantic
-good tackler
-needs to get off blocks better in run support
-sometimes takes bad angles
-not asked to play man coverage, played a lot of centerfield
-okay instincts
