2021 NFL Draft safety rankings: Grant and Moehrig battle for the top spot
By John Blair
5. Hamsah Nasirildeen, Florida State
6-foot-3, 215 pounds
2021 NFL Draft grade: Third round
A prospect who might move positions once he gets to the NFL is Florida State’s Hamsah Nasirildeen. It is very likely the team that drafts him will move him from his college position of safety to outside linebacker. This move makes sense as Nasirildeen has played some linebacker while at Florida State and has been a very productive player vs. the run leading the team in tackles in both 2018 and 2019.
Nasirildeen could fill an outside linebacker or in the box safety role due to his impressive athletic ability. He moves extremely well for someone 6-foot-3 and 215 pounds and has the cover skills to shut down most tight ends he will face at the next level. When it comes to playing the run he does a good job of playing downhill and is a consistent tackler. Another role Nasirildeen can fill in the NFL is as cover man on kicks and punts having played over 400 snaps on special teams for the Seminoles.
One reason Nasirildeen might be better off as an outside linebacker is his lack of overall quickness. While he has the speed to match up with tight ends he could struggle against slot receivers at the next level. Another issue with Nasirildeen is that he is coming off a torn ACL which cost him the first seven games of the 2020 season.