The NFL is big on players that have versatility. The safety class has a lot of players that are in this mold. One player not getting enough attention in this class is San Diego State’s Tariq Thompson. He was a four-year starter at his time at San Diego State and specialized in the Warrior position that SDSU employs. Thompson is a very versatile prospect that excels in his IQ and continuous turnover production.
Alex Leatherwood is an extremely experienced offensive lineman who has been at the forefront of some controversy this draft cycle. The debate on him is whether or not he should be making a switch from guard to tackle once in the NFL.
Darius Stills has a natural flair as an inside pass-rusher that will appeal to teams on Day 3 of the 2021 NFL Draft.
The Pittsburgh defense is sending a lot of talent to the NFL this year. They had one of the best safety tandems in the league with Damar Hamlin and Paris Ford. Hamlin played in many different spots during his time there and projects to do the same in the NFL as well.
Caden Sterns has been on draft radars since his freshman season. Sterns shows some very good traits, but in a stacked safety class, is he good enough to be selected ahead of some other star players? Let’s find out.
John Bates has the potential to make it as a classic ‘Y’ tight end or H-Back at the next level, provided teams aren’t fooled by his lack of production at Boise State. He’s got late-round steal potential for an NFL franchise ready to coach up a prospect.
The first thought that comes to mind with a USC Safety is the legendary Troy Polamalu. Coincidentally, the Steelers legend has taken the reigning Pat Tillman Defensive Player of the Year Talanoa Hufanga under his wing.
The son of a former Pro Bowl cornerback, Patrick Surtain II is walking in his father’s footsteps as a shutdown corner. He stepped in from day one as a freshman and immediately impacted the Crimson Tide defense. Surtain is the surest thing on the defensive side of the ball going into the NFL Draft. He is very pro-ready and he looks to make a seamless transition.
The 2021 linebacker class is deep. While many expected it to be top-heavy, there are plenty of players on days two and three that could find starting roles during their rookie seasons. That includes Boston College’s Isaiah McDuffie. McDuffie came to BC as a safety, but made the transition to the second level.
In a loaded safety class, James Wiggins has really not gotten much media attention. After starting for Cincinnati in 2018, Wiggins has had a bit of an injury-riddled career. After missing the 2019 season, he led the Bearcats’ defense to a New Year’s Six Bowl in 2020. Wiggins is a superb playmaker at the safety spot, but will his style translate to the NFL? Let’s dive in.
Tony Poljan has the raw physical gifts that should convince a team to take a leap of faith during the late rounds of the 2021 NFL draft. A former college quarterback who converted to tight end, Poljan has tremendous upside but needs a lot of work to refine his game. Even so, you can bet more than a few coaches will be tempted by a versatile pass-catcher who will be a size mismatch in the pros.
Cornerbacks are at a premium in this year’s NFL Draft. With several expected to go in the first few rounds, Tre Brown could be a player that gets called on in the latter half of the draft.
The NFL is big on players that have versatility. The safety class has a lot of players that are in this mold. One player not getting enough attention in this class is San Diego State’s Tariq Thompson. He was a four-year starter at his time at San Diego State and specialized in the Warrior position that SDSU employs. Thompson is a very versatile prospect that excels in his IQ and continuous turnover production.
Alex Leatherwood is an extremely experienced offensive lineman who has been at the forefront of some controversy this draft cycle. The debate on him is whether or not he should be making a switch from guard to tackle once in the NFL.
Darius Stills has a natural flair as an inside pass-rusher that will appeal to teams on Day 3 of the 2021 NFL Draft.
The Pittsburgh defense is sending a lot of talent to the NFL this year. They had one of the best safety tandems in the league with Damar Hamlin and Paris Ford. Hamlin played in many different spots during his time there and projects to do the same in the NFL as well.
Caden Sterns has been on draft radars since his freshman season. Sterns shows some very good traits, but in a stacked safety class, is he good enough to be selected ahead of some other star players? Let’s find out.
John Bates has the potential to make it as a classic ‘Y’ tight end or H-Back at the next level, provided teams aren’t fooled by his lack of production at Boise State. He’s got late-round steal potential for an NFL franchise ready to coach up a prospect.
The first thought that comes to mind with a USC Safety is the legendary Troy Polamalu. Coincidentally, the Steelers legend has taken the reigning Pat Tillman Defensive Player of the Year Talanoa Hufanga under his wing.
The son of a former Pro Bowl cornerback, Patrick Surtain II is walking in his father’s footsteps as a shutdown corner. He stepped in from day one as a freshman and immediately impacted the Crimson Tide defense. Surtain is the surest thing on the defensive side of the ball going into the NFL Draft. He is very pro-ready and he looks to make a seamless transition.
The 2021 linebacker class is deep. While many expected it to be top-heavy, there are plenty of players on days two and three that could find starting roles during their rookie seasons. That includes Boston College’s Isaiah McDuffie. McDuffie came to BC as a safety, but made the transition to the second level.
In a loaded safety class, James Wiggins has really not gotten much media attention. After starting for Cincinnati in 2018, Wiggins has had a bit of an injury-riddled career. After missing the 2019 season, he led the Bearcats’ defense to a New Year’s Six Bowl in 2020. Wiggins is a superb playmaker at the safety spot, but will his style translate to the NFL? Let’s dive in.
Tony Poljan has the raw physical gifts that should convince a team to take a leap of faith during the late rounds of the 2021 NFL draft. A former college quarterback who converted to tight end, Poljan has tremendous upside but needs a lot of work to refine his game. Even so, you can bet more than a few coaches will be tempted by a versatile pass-catcher who will be a size mismatch in the pros.
Cornerbacks are at a premium in this year’s NFL Draft. With several expected to go in the first few rounds, Tre Brown could be a player that gets called on in the latter half of the draft.
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