KJ Dillon, SS ,West Virginia: 2016 NFL Draft Scouting Report:

By Eric Robinson | Apr 1, 2016

Nov 28, 2015; Morgantown, WV, USA; West Virginia Mountaineers safety KJ Dillon (9) is honored on senior day before their game against the Iowa State Cyclones at Milan Puskar Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-USA TODAY Sports /

Kam Chancellor. Kenny Vaccaro. Malcolm Jenkins. Reshad Jones.

Just a few of some of the better strong safeties in the NFL. This upcoming NFL draft class has a few intriguing names that are hopefuls to join that particular list as well.

From Florida’s Keanu Neal to Duke’s Jeremy Cash to Boise State’s Darian Thomson. One name that can possible fit in the class is KJ Dillon out of West Virginia. The big hitter has a very good skill set overall with enough attributes to be a solid day two selection and provide a solid presence in the secondary for a certain team. Let’s break down Dillon skills with a scouting report.

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S KJ Dillon, West Virginia

Height: 6-0

Weight: 210 lbs

Strengths: Dillon brings NFL size to a team and will ultimately fill out to 215 – 22o pounds. His 2015 season totaled 54 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, two interceptions, and eight pass deflections. That stat line is just a fraction of his career totals of 159 career tackles, 17 tackles for loss, four interceptions, and 20 pass deflections.

Very solid length with 31 5/8 inches measured at the combine as well as 9 5/8 inch hands. Dillon has shown on film to provide man coverage ability as he at times covered the opposing team’s slot receiver.

Good athleticism as Dillon had the “Spur” assignment for the 3-3-5 defense which is a hybrid safety/linebacker position. He is at his best in the box as he applies fundamental read & react skills and is actively involved in run defense. Dillon came up big for the West Virginia defense as he earned second-team All Big 12 recognition.

A recently published film on the Draft Breakdown platform which shows Dillon’s qualities to be reliable in run support and ability to also be reliable in pass defense against one of the top receivers in the nation, Sterling Shepard:

Weaknesses: Dillon must polish his mechanics as a safety in order to accomplish long term success. From his backpedal to flipping his hips to his jam on receivers, those phases in his game require refining. Depending on scheme requirements, Dillon will have to add bulk.

If beaten in pass coverage, Dillon tends to grab which is a definite no-no. Dillon also has a flaw with recovery speed which can get exploited at the next level. His 11 reps on the bench press at the Combine was a red flag for some draft circles as well.

He also must tighten up his pursuit angles as a downhill safety.

Bottom line: Physicality is the name of the game for KJ Dillon. His presence screams a downhill safety with the mentality to hit and leave an imprint on an opposing offensive player. What will set Dillon apart from the upper echelon of the draft is his lack of mechanics at a desirable level of some defensive coordinators. When both were healthy, it was quite clear that his secondary mate, Karl Joseph, was the better of the two.

Even with Joseph went down with a season-ending injury, Dillon stepped up his game but it still was as if something was missing. Dillon is in need of a team with an excellent secondary as he must improve on the small components of his game. If those small components can be addressed, Dillon has the ability to be that physical enforcer most expect him to be.

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