Georgia’s Nolan Smith Headlines Defense At 2023 NFL Scouting Combine
By Andrew Kim
Safety
In terms of athletic testing, for safeties, it probably matters less than at another defensive position just in general. So things like the 40-yard dash are less significant but having said that, this safety class is slower than most years and not one safety ran under a 4.4 and only five safeties ran under 4.5. It is mostly instincts or how they excel in the role they are given within the defense or if they are versatile to make plays wherever they are lined up on the field. That being said, it does help if you have both the mental football intellect and enough physical attributes on the field.
Even though he is classified as a potential first-round corner, Brian Branch was a safety prospect that started there before playing more snaps at nickel corner at Alabama. His testing was average to below average (other than his broad, which would’ve been top five as a safety at 10’5″), but the 6’0″ junior defensive back’s game is more instinctive, as that does sometimes translate more than the physical attributes. Branch, weighing in at 190 lbs. with 30 3/4″ arms, had three interceptions and 23 pass deflections in the three seasons he played for the Crimson Tide as a versatile defensive back.
The other safety at Alabama, Jordan Battle can be seen as “the jack of all trades, master of none,” even more than Branch. The senior safety is listed at 6’1″ and 209 lbs. with 32″ arms but had less production compared to Branch (six interceptions and ten pass deflections in four seasons). Battle does have the size advantage as a traditional cover safety, and running a 4.55 in the 40-yard dash is good enough for that spot.
Speaking of size, JL Skinner out of Boise State is massive at 6’4″ and 209 lbs. with 32″ arms. However, he was injured during training prior to the Scouting Combine and is out with a torn pec that needs surgery.
Antonio Johnson (Texas A&M), Anthony Johnson Jr. (Iowa State), and Jammie Robinson (Florida State) all ran under 4.6 in the 40-yard dash but were underwhelming in the other athletic tests (besides Johnson Jr. who tested well as a former cornerback that converted to safety).
The Iowa State senior defensive back lists at 6’0″ and 205 lbs. with 31 1/4″ arms, while the Florida State senior defensive back offers versatility as well despite being more undersized in comparison. Robinson is 5’11” and weighs 191 lbs., but his short arms at 29 5/8″ arms might suit him better in the slot as a corner, which he has the capability to do.
The Texas A&M junior safety is built with a size that screams box safety. At 6’2″ and 198 lbs. with 32 1/8″ arms, Johnson possesses just enough speed to cover while filling in for run support, despite not testing that well other than the 40-yard dash.
Other potential box safeties or versatile safeties that line up near the line of scrimmage include Christopher Smith II (Georgia) and Ji’Ayir Brown (Penn State). Both didn’t run super well at the 40-yard dash (over 4.6 seconds) and didn’t stand out in the other athletic testing measures (or were average to below average at some events).
However, both possess good enough size and production that reflect potential instincts that can occur at the next level. Smith, at 5’11” and 192 lbs. with 31 1/8″ arms, had six interceptions and nine pass deflections in the two years he started (as a senior) for the Georgia Bulldogs. Brown is similar, as the senior weighs in at 203 lbs. at 5’11” with 31 1/4″ arms. The Penn State safety picked off ten passes (with nine pass deflections) in the two seasons he started for the Nittany Lions.
Safeties that profile as day two or three picks that showed their athleticism at the Scouting Combine include Brandon Hill (Pitt), Jason Taylor II (Oklahoma State), Chamarri Connor (Virginia Tech), and Daniel Scott (Cal).
The Illinois safeties were the highlight for this position, as Jartavius Martin and Sydney Brown had notable testing scores at a position that underwhelmed overall.
They were either top three or top five for each category, as Martin led the group with his vertical and broad jump at 44″ (tied for the all-time record) and 11’1″. Martin also tied for the 3rd best 10-yard split ever (at 1.47), with Brown right behind or ahead of him on certain metrics.
Sydney also displays versatility, as the senior at 5’10” and 211 lbs. with 31 1/2″ arms had 16 pass deflections and ten interceptions in his five-year career, playing snaps at traditional safety and slot cornerback. While Sydney is a better downhill defender, Martin is more versatile playing more slot corner and deep safety, showing the range as a smooth athlete with clean transitions in coverage.
The 5’11” 194 lbs. defensive back with 31 1/8″ arms picked the ball off seven times, with 22 pass deflections in his five-year college career. The senior could be taken on day two of the draft, along with his teammate, as both were key pieces in leading a defense that was one of the best in college football this past season at Illinois.