NFL
By Bill Carroll
Tier 1: NFL Nickel/Hybrid Stars (Multiple Coverage Schemes)
These are defenders who can play outside, slide into the slot, blitz, tackle, and survive in both man and zone concepts.
1. Zeke Berry | Michigan
Scheme: Heavy Man / Match Quarters / Nickel Hybrid
One of the most complete defensive backs in the class. Berry possesses the foot quickness, processing speed and competitive toughness to remain outside or transition inside without sacrificing effectiveness. Comfortable carrying vertical routes while also triggering aggressively against the run. Excellent spatial awareness makes him an ideal modern nickel defender.
Strengths
- Outstanding football intelligence
- Physical run support
- Reliable tackler
- Route anticipation
- Position flexibility
NFL Comparison: Temu Brian Branch
Projection: Round 1
2. Zach Lutmer | Iowa
Scheme: Zone Match / Cover 3 / Quarters
Classic Iowa defensive back in that he is smart, disciplined and technically advanced. Lutmer consistently stays in phase and rarely busts assignments. While he lacks elite recovery speed, his instincts allow him to play faster than he times.
Strengths
- Zone awareness
- Ball production
- Physical tackler
- High football IQ
Projection: Round 2
3. Christian Gray | Notre Dame
Technically polished corner who can play as a boundary DB as well, he competes at every catch point. Excellent leverage player with strong instincts.
Run Support: Very good
Blitz Value: Above-average
Projection: Round 1-2
Tier 2: Press-Man Specialists
These corners project best in defenses asking them to challenge receivers at the line of scrimmage.
Khalil Barnes | Georgia
Prototype SEC ‘Star’ with outstanding size and athletic upside. He is comfortable disrupting timing routes with physicality. His route anticipation is a work in progress, but quick feet, fluid hips, and reliable tackling add up to one of the highest ceilings in the class.
Run Support: Above Average
Blitz Value: Limited
Projection: Round 2-3
Red Morgan* | Alabama
Loose athlete with outstanding transition skills. Morgan carries vertical routes effortlessly and possesses legitimate NB1 upside if he continues to develop his ball skills.
Run Support: Good
Projection: Round 2-3
Marcus Washington Jr. | Syracuse
Long, physical outside defender with excellent press technique and above-average closing burst.
Best Fit
Single-high defenses featuring Cover 1 and Cover 3.
Projection: Round 3-4
Moore combines length with fluid transitions and outstanding competitive toughness. Mirrors releases naturally and possesses enough athleticism to travel with NFL-caliber receivers.
Best Trait
Recovery speed and mirror ability.
Projection: Round 3-4
Jyaire Hill | Michigan
Possesses NFL length with outstanding movement skills. Still developing consistency but flashes starter-level traits.
Projection: Round 2-3
Jiquan Sanks | Indiana
Former UC Bearcat whose closing speed, strength combination gives him developmental starter upside.
Projection: Round 3-4
Smith Snowden | Michigan
Toughness, instincts and smooth hips make him the former UTE an attractive, spatially aware slot corner.
Projection: Round 3-4
Tier 3: Nickel / Zone Specialists
These players project best inside because of instincts, processing speed and short-area quickness.
Kayin Lee* | Tennessee
Smart slot defender with excellent route recognition. Plays bigger than his size and consistently arrives under control as a tackler.
Run Support: Very Good
Blitz Ability: Above Average
Projection: Round 3
Ja’Bril Rawls | FSU
This red-shirt sophomore’s quick feet and outstanding change of direction allow him to mirror underneath receivers naturally.
Projection: Round 2-3
Xavier Scott | Illinois
Competitive nickel who combines excellent awareness with physical tackling. Very comfortable fitting the run from inside alignments. He only played 3 games in 2025-26 due to injury, in 2024: 49 tackles (43 solo), 2.0 tackles for loss, 1.0 sack, one forced fumble, four interceptions, and six pass breakups.
Blitz Value: Good
Projection: Round 3-4
Ayden Jackson | S. Florida
A transfer from Georgia Southern where he totaled 115 tackles, seven tackles for loss and three interceptions and earned 3rd team All Sunbelt-Conference honors. A smooth mover who excels reading quarterbacks in zone coverage and shows solid closing acceleration.
Projection: Round 3-4
Jaden Mickey | Boise State
A fluid athlete with natural slot traits and is comfortable playing through traffic.
Projection: Round 3-4
Eli Bowen | Oklahoma
Explosive feet and competitive demeanor translate well inside as he has some of the same qualities that made D’Angelo Ponds special.
Projection: Round 3-4
Nazir Ward* | Syracuse
A reliable zone defender who limits explosive plays through disciplined positioning. 35 tackles, an interception and six pass breakups.
Projection: Round 4-5
Tier 4: Physical Hybrid Defenders
These prospects separate themselves through tackling, blitzing, and run support.
Antwan Peek Jr. | Cincinnati
An aggressive downhill defender, this former walk-on, was a Burlsworth Award nominee who excels fitting outside runs and blitzing from the slot.
Run Defense: Excellent
Blitz Ability: Excellent
Projection: Round 3-4
Antonio Kite | Ole Miss
Long, physical defender who enjoys contact. Could eventually transition into a safety/nickel hybrid role.
Projection: Round 4
Omar Thornton | Miami
A strong tackler with enough versatility to handle multiple secondary roles.
Projection: Round 4-5
Ahmere Foster | Memphis
An instinctive defender who plays with urgency against perimeter screens and outside runs. He is a smaller player but tough.
Projection: Round 4-5
Ja’son Prevard | Kansas State
Former Morgan State standout whose length and physicality make him one of the more intriguing FCS transfers in the class. Shows willingness to tackle and enough athletic ability to remain at corner while contributing on special teams early.
Projection: Round 5-6
Tier 5: Developmental Traits Prospects
Brice Pollock | Texas Tech
Excellent athlete with developmental upside if technique catches up to physical gifts.
Projection: Round 4-5
Christian Bodnar | Oklahoma State
Length and movement skills warrant continued evaluation. Developmental outside corner.
Projection: Round 5-6
Gentry Williams | Georgia
The Sooner transfer is talented, but seems to hurt his shoulder once per game.
Projection: Round 5-6
Jimmy Wyrick | SMU
The UTSA / Stanford is small but very tough and productive-2025: 62 total tackles, including 42 solo and a half TFL, two fumble recoveries, a forced fumble and an interception.
Projection: Round 5-6
Quay’sheed Scott | S. Carolina
5’10 ½” 208-39 tackles including 26 solo tackles, with 1.5 tackles for loss, intercepted one pass and credited with four pass breakups.
Projection: Round 6-7
Geimere Latimer II | West Virginia
The smallish Senior, listed at 5’9″ 188 lbs., is a Wisconsin transfer and veteran presence returning to West Virginia University.
Projection: Round 6-7
Early 2027 Scheme Fit Board
Heavy Press-Man Teams
- Christian Gray
-
Gentry Williams
-
Red Morgan
-
Jiquan Sanks
- Geimere Latimer II
Match Quarters / Zone Teams
- Zeke Berry
- Zach Lutmer
- Jyaire Hill
- Christian Bodnar
- Marcus Washington Jr.
- Omar Thornton
- Smith Snowden
Best Run Support
- Zeke Berry
- Cam Calhoun
- Jermaine Mathews
- Zach Lutmer
- Kelley Jones
Best Blitz Potential
- Antwan Peek Jr.
- Zeke Berry
- Zach Lutmer
-
Jimmy Wyrick
- Antonio Kite
This approach mirrors how NFL scouting departments typically build their nickel-back boards. Instead of evaluating all slot-defenders/nickels together, it prioritizes scheme translation, positional versatility, and role-specific traits, providing a more actionable framework for projecting players into today’s sub-package-heavy defensive schemes.
