SS/LB Shaquem Griffin (see above)
S Dane Cruikshank, Arizona One of the things I love about draft prospect season: a player who is outstanding while playing in a power 5 conference, yet no one mentions him or even know who he is, largely because there are bigger names who were more highly recruted out of high school, and/or amateur scouts don’t watch bad teams for good players. Then, when that player lights up the combine
| Height: 6012 Weight: 209 40 Yrd Dash: 4.41 20 Yrd Dash: 2.59 10 Yrd Dash: 1.55 |
225 Lb. Bench Reps: 25 Vertical Jump: 38 1/2 Broad Jump: 10’01” 20 Yrd Shuttle: 4.24 3-Cone Drill: 6.89 |
or shines at an all-star game, suddenly he jumps up draft boards. Isn’t it 90% film? You mean you couldn’t see him working as a physical CB or making play after play as a safety? Not as polished or as good as he’s going to get, but right now he’s a hitter and can run and cover.
SS/LB Foyesade Oluokun, Yale A really intriguing player–one of the newfangled hybrid LB/S types that are thriving right now in the NFL. With 4.48 speed at 6′, 229 bs, he is equally adept in coverage or in stopping ballcarriers cold when he can come downhill.
SS/CB Siran Neal (see above)
S Tarvarius Moore, Southern Mississippi Explosive and extremely fast (4.32) FS, with long arms and a physical style. Has not reached his peak as a player, but still had 87 tackles, three interceptions, and 10 passes defensed in 2017.
S Natrell Jamerson, Wisconsin A solid all around safety who has the instincts to play deep but who is still willing and able to come up and tackle/hit.
S Nate “Scooby”Gaines, Texas-San Antonio A scary enforcer and ball hawk Safety, straight out of 1975. (see above)
FS/CB Jeremy Reaves, South Alabama Dropped on boards despite an excellent showing at Senior Bowl practices and game in his hometown of Mobile. Why? Only thing working against him is small hands. Amazing that that was enough to change the talk on him from a 4th or 5th rounder to undrafted. Tape shows him as a ferocious hitting, ball-hawking safety who played both deep and strong safety spots. His tape prior to 2017 showed him as a really effective outside CB with great mirroring skills and ability to take the ball away. Posted eye-popping stat line in 2017: 104 tackles, 7 TFL, 3 INTs, 2 fumble recoveries, 3 forced fumbles, 8 passes broken up. Safeties who have CB cover skills and a knack for making plays and forcing turnovers are supposed to be valuable.
S Trayvon Henderson, Hawaii A versatile safety who showed well at Senior Bowl but was overlooked for a combine invite. He had his most productive year in 2016, with 90 tackles, 10.5 TFL, 2 sacks, 3 INT, 7 passes defensed, and one pick 6, A great fit for a team that likes to use its safeties more interchangeably.
S Tracy Walker, Louisiana Versatile safety with sideline to sideline range and tackling skills when aligned in the box. Made some of his best plays vs the best competition, with INTs vs Texas A&M and Ole Miss.
S Tray Matthews, Auburn If the Steelers’ Sean Davis were a sure tackler, physical enough to be your designated accidentally on purpose late hit on the opponent’s star player, and fast enough to chase down Joe Mixon, Derrius Guice, and Sony Michel… he’d be Tray Matthews. Unfortunately for Matthews, injuries have really pushed him down the boards, even though he was once the #2 DB recruit in the nation, and played well when not hurt.
S Secdrick Cooper, Louisiana Tech A spirited hitter and good tackler, has good burst to make plays on the ball from deep coverage.