Previewing the NFL Scouting Combine: Safety

In recent years as the style of play in the NFL has transitioned to a more open-space, spread the field, type of game, the role of the safety position has evolved along with nearly every other position on the field.  In large part, gone are the days of the true distinction of a free safety and strong safety.  With more and more unique personnel playing a large percent of snaps and calling for a fifth defensive back (cornerback or safety) to be on the field, safeties in the NFL have to be capable of playing both near the line of scrimmage and in space, at least to a degree.  Players still have body types and skill sets that may make them more suitable and comfortable playing in the box, while others may be more effective in coverage and playing over the top of the defense.  Regardless, safeties in the NFL today must have enough ability and awareness to execute from multiple spots and be capable of at least being relied upon to play in different areas on the field so that defenses can be multiple and not allow offenses to easily pick up on coverages and blitzes before the snap to exploit them once the ball is in play.

The safety class represented in this year's combine feature a number of different prospects who are both strong in one area of their game, while also having value in being sufficient in various aspects, being versatile enough to be moved around the defense and still make plays to have an impact on the game.  Of the 29 prospects at the position invited to come to Indianapolis seven are early entrants as underclassmen. The ten names that will soon follow well represent the versatility and talent at the position that shall soon make its impact on the NFL.  Though the group of players I've decided to mention doesn't necessarily reflect an order or list of the best prospects I believe to be at the position, each is a player I've identified through evaluation and information that has a decent, if not likely, chance to make an impact in the NFL.  

Ten Names To Watch For

• Marcus Allen, Penn State
• Jessie Bates, Wake Forest
• Deshon Elliot, Texas
• Tre Flowers, Oklahoma State
• Ronnie Harrison, Alabama
• Derwin James, Florida State
• Kameron Kelly, San Diego State
• Siran Neal, Jacksonville State
• Justin Reid, Stanford
• Armani Watts, Texas A&M

Few players, let alone safeties, are the complete package that Derwin James is.  The 6'3, 212 pound all-around athlete has rare traits at the position, combining size and speed along with an instinct for the ball and versatility to play from all over the field, making him not only one of the best safeties in the draft, but at the top of the list in terms of overall prospects in the draft.  James is expected to stand out at the combine and perform extremely well in agility testing which would be impressive given his length and size.  James began the season considered one of the top prospects in the draft before an atypical Florida State losing season somewhat soured some scouts and analysts opinion of him.  Coming back from a torn meniscus that kept him out nearly all of 2016, James, who entered the draft after playing just 26 games in three seasons at Florida State, seemingly got better each week as he elevated his level of play late in the season en route to being named an AP All-American and first team All-ACC.  James has a better athletic profile than New York Giants safety Landon Collins, who was my favorite safety prospect in recent years and was taken with first pick of the second round in 2015 NFL Draft, being 33rd overall.  I can assure you that James won't last until that long.  

James isn't the only safety prospect to set his sights on the NFL having come from the ACC after just three seasons, as Jessie Bates of Wake Forest decided to enter the draft early, having played the last two seasons for the Deamon Deacons, while redshirting during 2015.  Bates had a solid season in 2017, but was arguably the best safety in the ACC during the 2016 season, with James out and him seeing his first action on the field in his college career.  He displays the smoothness and fluidity in his footwork plus ball skills that are wanted in safety prospects, especially as it relates to being to play on the "back end" of the defense. Should Bates perform well in his agility testing during the combine his name may creep past nearly all the safety prospects that might've received more recognition than him playing at schools with a more established identity, as it relates to their football program.  

Armani Watts and Ronnie Harrison both played a lot of highly competitive football and received a tremendous amount of experience during their time in the talent laden Southeastern Conference (SEC).  Watts put together an outstanding career during his time at Texas A&M, finishing with a total of 324 tackles (213 solo), 24 tackles for loss, 10 interceptions, 17 passes defended, 5 fumble recoveries, and 7 forced fumbles. In his freshman season Watts had three interceptions, while defending an additional seven passes, before setting a career high in tackles his sophomore season with 126 total.  Playing in only eight games during the 2016 season, Watts still managed to have a sack, intercept two passes, recover two fumbles, forced another two fumbles, while defending three passes.  To cap off his career, the four year starter set career high marks for a season during 2017 in tackles for loss (10), interceptions (4), and forced fumbles (5), while being named first team All-SEC and an AP All-American.  

Similar to Landon Collins before him, Harrison entered the draft after spending three seasons at Alabama, competing as a reserve and on special teams his freshman season before going onto start in his sophomore and junior year.  A big safety at 6'3, 214 pounds, Harrison brings a similar style of play to the game as Collins, excelling in being an enforcer with his physical style of play, while also retaining the speed and movement skills to cover both in zone and man, when asked to.  Should he show some looseness in his transitions while performing positional drills at the combine, Harrison should put himself in position to be selected in the range right about where Collins was taken, as a potential late first/early second round pick.  

Two other prospects at the position who entered the draft early that realistically have a chance at being the second safety taken in the draft behind Derwin James are Justin Reid and Deshon Elliott.  Both players received consideration for the Jim Thorpe Award, awarded to the nation's best defensive back in college football, for their play during the 2017 season, with Reid being a semifinalist and Elliott making the cut as a finalist.  While Reid has the pedigree, having a brother in Eric Reid playing the position in the NFL, Elliott propelled himself to a quality NFL caliber safety prospect after a standout 2017, having only started one game in his career prior to the season.  Both prospects play with a high IQ of the game, allowing them to anticipate and make plays with excellent instincts, combined with the physicality to impose their will on opposing players.  Combining for 11 interceptions between them in 2017 (Elliott 6, Reid 5), they each earned first team honors in their respective conferences, while being recognized on the AP All-American team as well.  

Marcus Allen was a four year performer at Penn State and though he only had one interception during his career, the godson of Curtis Martin always seemed to be around the ball and made plays throughout his entire career as a Nittany Lion.  While there are legitimate concerns about his ball skills and coverage ability as a whole, Allen showed himself to be a leader throughout his time at Penn State and played with a level of aggression that is deemed ready for the NFL.  It will be important to show for Allen to show that he is capable of moving seamlessly as a deep safety through his footwork and transitions while performing positional drills in attempt to prove he is capable and trustworthy of being asked to perform such function with effectiveness in the NFL, even if only on occasion.  

A trio of players to round out the ten names to watch at the safety position illustrate the different body types and versatility that makes up the class of prospects in this year's draft and combine.  Tre Flowers of Oklahoma State is a lengthy, long-limbed safety at 6'3, Kameron Kelly has the frame and ability that is enticing at both the cornerback and safety spot, and 6'0 Siran Neal played all over the field at Jacksonville State playing effectively both near the line of scrimmage and on the outside as a cornerback.  Both Kelly and Neal played cornerback this season for the first time in their careers, having played the safety position effectively in prior seasons, showing the versatility to line up in different spots on the field that is coveted in the modern day NFL safety.  Both players were selected to play in the Senior Bowl and earned first team all conference honors, respectively, while Neal was recognized as an All-American at the FCS level in just his first season at the position. Flowers spent most of his time in a traditional safety role at Oklahoma State, but his length, reach, and straight line speed could entice teams to move him to cornerback where his physical gifts could serve him well in press coverage and he could have a profile reminiscent of Brandon Browner formerly of the Seattle Seahawks, who started opposite Richard Sherman at cornerback on the Seahawks' Super Bowl winning team.