(STATS) – Former Delaware safety Nasir Adderley appears to check off every box for an NFL prospect.
Well, except one.
An extra level of doubt always follows prospects below the FBS level.
However, it takes a lot of close looking to find much fault in Adderley, the 2018 STATS FCS All-American. He is expected to be the first draft pick from the subdivision, considered by some analysts as a late first-round talent. Even if he falls into the second round, he should be the second-highest draft selection in Delaware history – there’s been 28 – behind only quarterback Joe Flacco, who the Baltimore Ravens chose 18th overall in the first round in 2008.
“The feedback has been really good,” Adderley said. “I’ve been told (NFL teams) really like my versatility, my ability to cover a lot of ground on the back end, my physicality, my football intelligence. I’ve been hearing a lot of great things, which is more motivation to keep going.”
The 6-foot, 206-pound Adderley is a cousin to Herb Adderley, who won three Super Bowls with the Green Bay Packers and Dallas Cowboys and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1980.
If there is any late concern with the Delaware standout, it could be injuries. After a big performance at the Reese’s Senior Bowl, he skipped the on-field drills and testing at the NFL Combine due to lingering affects of an ankle injury last season. He participated in four events at Delaware’s pro day, but cut his day short after tweaking a hamstring while running the 40-yard dash.
He has superb range, displays terrific change of direction and is a hard-hitter. In 45 career games with the Blue Hens, he had 265 tackles and 11 interceptions – basically a man among boys on the FCS level.
Assessed NFL Draft Bible, “The tape shows a complete safety with the range, reliable tackling, physicality and ball-skills to warrant top 50 consideration.”
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