Safety Scouting Reports - 2024
Bird’s Eye View: Positional Analysis
The 2024 Safety class has an array of quality athletes with the range and physical makeup desired for defending the back third of the field. There are just no Derwin James or Kyle Hamilton-type players in this class. Tyler Nubin (Minnesota), Kamren Kinchens (Miami, Fl), Calen Bulock (USC), and Tykee Smith (Georgia) are the best pure safeties in this draft class. There are also several quality slot corners in this class including Jaylin Simpson (Auburn) and Daijahn Anthony (Ole Miss).
Positional Grade: D+
Kamren Kinchens / Miami, Fl
5112 / 203 / 31.2” Arms / 75” Wingspan
4.65 40 / 35” vertical / 9’2” broad jump
Ideal size and length. Very good leaping ability – high points the ball. Physical and tough. Great ball skills with a great burst on the ball in the air. Six INTs recorded in 2022. Smart, instinctive, and executes his responsibilities well. Lines up and covers WRs and TEs out of the slot. Displays good range as a single high safety. Always near the ball downfield. Very good blitzer with a nice closing burst on the QB. Breaks down well in the open field and secures the tackle.
Kamren Kinchens / Miami, Fl
Player Comparison:
Jordan Poyer / Miami
Tykee Smith / Georgia
Player Comparison:
Xavier McKinney / Green Bay
Tykee Smith / Georgia
5100 / 202 / 31.5” Arms / 74.6” Wingspan
4.46 40 / 36” vertical / 10’0” broad jump
Transfer from West Virginia. Average build with a big wingspan. Good athlete who can match up at all three levels of the defense and is used as a mismatch piece. Lines up as an Edge, in the slot, as a LB, or as a deep safety. Projects as an NFL safety. Used as a weapon at all levels of the defense – productive in gaining INTs, tackles, and TFLs where he is amongst the team leaders.
Calen Bullock / USC
6020 / 188 / 32.4” Arms / 78.1” Wingspan
4.48 40
Ideal length and reach on a long, athletic body. Very good athlete – smooth and rangy in coverage. Follows the QB’s eyes and displays great ball skills. High points the ball. Excellent leaping ability. Excellent range with great speed. Lacks some mass and falls off some tackles – lacks desired strength. Solid open field tackler although he seems disinterested at the task at times.
Calen Bullock / USC
Player Comparison:
Kyle Hamilton / Baltimore
Tyler Nubin / Minnesota
Player Comparison:
Justin Reid / Kansas City
Tyler Nubin / Minnesota
6012 / 199 / 32” Arms / 77.4” Wingspan
Prototypical size and length for an NFL safety. Great ball skills – recorded 2 INTs in the season opener against Nebraska. Great athlete with body control and closing burst. Very instinctive and smart. Reads the QB’s eyes well and shows closing burst on the ball in the air. Has the ability to cover TEs, RBs, and some WRs. Physical tackler. Keys quickly. Very good instincts. Very good special teams player.
Domonique Hampton / Washington
6023 / 215 / 33.2” Arms / 79.7” Wingspan
4.51 40 / 39” vertical / 10’2” broad jump
Excellent size and overall length. Good athlete with very good leaping ability. Ideal physical makeup for covering TEs and some (big) WRs. Physical at the catch point. Big hitter who brings his pads on contact. Keys quickly against the run. Quality instincts. Reliable open field tackler who breaks down well in space. Led team in tackles in 2023. Could project to OLB in some schemes.
Domonique Hampton / Washington
Player Comparison:
Jeremy Chinn / Carolina
Jaden Hicks / Washington State
Player Comparison:
Donovan Wilson / Dallas
Jaden Hicks / Washington State
6017 / 211 / 31.4” Arms / 76.2” Wingspan
37.5” vertical / 10’2” broad jump / 16 reps (225 lbs)
Good size and length – ideal frame for the position. Active and always near the ball - very good instincts. Covers ground and has tremendous range. Unloads on the ball carrier – big time hitter. Breaks down well in the open field. Displays the ability to cover TEs. RBs, and WRs in man coverage. Very good reaction and ball skills.
Jaylin Simpson / Auburn
5115 / 179 / 32.3” Arms / 76.5 Wingspan
4.45 40 / 39.5” vertical / 11’1” broad jump
Good size with very good length. Tremendous ball skills. Adept at watching the QB’s eyes and jumping routes. Very good closing burst. Excellent instincts. Very good athleticism combined with instincts give him tremendous functional range. Former CB with excellent hips and movement skills for a safety. Willing to support against the run and breaks down well in the open field.
Jaylin Simpson / Auburn
Player Comparison:
Kenny Moore / Indianapolis
Kitan Oladapo / Oregon State
Player Comparison:
Grant Delpit / Cleveland
Kitan Oladapo / Oregon State
6020 / 216 / 32.3” Arms / 76.7” Wingspan
4.58 40 / 36” vertical / 9’9” broad jump / 15 reps (225 lbs)
Very good size with a thick body and the body armor needed for a physical player. Brings the lumber in run support. Pursues hard from the backside. Rangy and covers a lot of ground as a deep safety. Effective stripping the ball with a good punch. Matches up well with most TEs in coverage.
Javon Bullard / Georgia
5104 / 198 / 30.6” Arms / 73.7” Wingspan
4.47 40
Average size. Extremely fast and has tremendous range. Closes quickly on the ball carrier and drives through the tackle. Good ball skills. Closes quickly on the ball in the air. Recorded two INTs in the 2023 National Championship game.
Javon Bullard / Georgia
Player Comparison:
Ji'Ayir Brown / San Francisco
James Williams / Miami, Fl
Player Comparison:
Taylor Rapp / Buffalo
James Williams / Miami, Fl
6042 / 231 / 33.5” Arms / 80.2” Wingspan
4.65 40 / 30” vertical / 9’9” broad jump
Huge and has great overall length. Very rangy and covers ground with huge strides. Big time hitter – brings pads on contact. Naturally athletic and smooth. Tracks the ball well and is effective covering the flat which projects well for a possible move to LB in the NFL. Sometimes fails to get enough depth in his drops and can be beaten over the top. May be switched to OLB in the NFL due to plus athletic characteristics at the position.
Kenny Logan / Kansas
5103 / 213
Looks the part - very good size who covers ground with huge strides. Fast. Very good range. Good tackler. Matches up will with TEs in coverage. Physical and tough. Keys quickly and comes downhill in run support. Experienced and productive multi-year starter.
Kenny Logan / Kansas
Player Comparison:
Tre'Von Moehrig / Las Vegas
Evan Williams / Oregon
Player Comparison:
Brandon Joseph / Detroit
Evan Williams / Oregon
5112 / 200 / 30.1” Arms / 72.7” Wingspan
4.60 40 / 40.5” vertical / 10’6” broad jump
Transfer from Fresno State. Good size with the classic build of an NFL safety. Rangy and covers a lot of ground. Breaks down well in the open field. Secure and physical tackler. Very effective in run support. Good ball skills and effectively follows the QB’s eyes.
Daijahn Anthony / Ole Miss
6000 / 195 / 32.4” Arms / 76.3” Wingspan
4.55 40 / 37” vertical / 9’8” broad jump
Possesses desired size and length. Plays a lot outside the box and has deep coverage responsibilities but also lines up on the slot receiver much of the time. Fills downhill quickly against the run. Displays enough lateral agility and movement skills to line up as a slot CB and has the fluidity to handle two-way go’s. Solid tackler but falls off some tackle attempts due to strength deficiencies.
Daijahn Anthony / Mississippi
Player Comparison:
Brian Branch / Detroit
Mark Perry / TCU
Player Comparison:
Chuck Clark / NY Jets
Mark Perry / TCU
6001 / 211
Good combination of height and length with solid mass on a muscular frame. Plays a lot of single high coverage. Runs well and covers ground in chunks. Tries to run around blocks and needs to get better at stacking and shedding blocks.
Cam Allen / Purdue
Good height, build, and length. Matches up well with size in coverage. Physical, tough, and strong. Fills aggressively vs the run. Competes at the catch point and is very disruptive. Lacks much of a second gear and loses phase in man coverage. Stiff in the hips and struggles with change of direction in man coverage. Often mismatched out of the slot, Allen is ideally suited for covering TEs, not slot WRs.
Cam Allen / Purdue
Player Comparison:
Jaylinn Hawkins / New England
Josh Proctor / Ohio State
Player Comparison:
Brandon Jones / Denver
Josh Proctor / Ohio State
6014 / 199 / 32” Arms / 78” Wingspan
4.55 40 / 32.5” vertical / 10’1” broad jump
Ideal size and length with a large wingspan. Very good leaping ability and can effectively high point the ball. Very good ball athlete. Very good range and capable of playing single high safety. Reliable tackler who is effective but not a big hitter.