Appalachian State CB/FS Doug Middleton Makes Plays
If you’re looking for a sleeper prospect in the 2016 NFL Draft already (and why wouldn’t you be?), look no further than Appalachian State defensive back Doug Middleton, who does nothing except for make plays.
Entering his senior season, Middleton is coming off of a year in which he posted 74 tackles, six for loss, four interceptions (one for a touchdown), and another six pass breakups. He knows how to get his hands on the football, and he also does a good job of making plays up around and behind the line of scrimmage.
Here are some of his highlights from his career at Appalachian State.
Observations
- Obviously a ball-hawk. He’s always around the football and I understand these are highlight tapes, but his numbers back that up as well.
- Middleton has excellent deep speed. You can see on his interception for a touchdown just how fast he goes from 0-60 and gets the ball into the end zone.
- Instincts against the run are solid. Middleton had six tackles for loss last year, which is really good for a defensive back.
- For a cornerback/free safety hybrid who projects well to either in the NFL, Middleton has good size at 6-0, 205 pounds.
- Eight interceptions already in his career indicative of improving ball skills and he shows in those highlight tapes really good field awareness, an ability to know when and where to get his feet down
- I would like to see him in more man coverage against top tier competition, but realize that’s asking a lot coming from a Sun Belt Conference team. How he performs as a senior against the best players he faces will be a huge determining factor in his draft stock.
- Missed much of the 2012 season with an injury.
Overall
Middleton primarily plays free safety, but he looks like he has some outside cornerback potential as well with his size, length, and deep speed. I don’t know how effective he is in man-to-man coverage, however.
As one of the top returning players in the Sun Belt conference, expectations for Middleton will be high to improve upon last year’s success and prove to people that not only is he better coming off of his 2012 season-ending ankle injury, but he’s capable of being a starting safety or corner in the NFL.
He certainly has the speed to do so, now we need to see the consistent production and, in the Sun Belt, perhaps even domination.