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2012 DRAFT PREVIEW: Safeties

Overview: Hard to believe that since 2005, twice as many safeties have been top 10 selections as CBs. Granted its a small sample - 4 safeties versus just 2 corners - but still somewhat surprising given the perception that the NFL values CBs much more than their secondary counterparts. However, while it looks like CB could be one of the strengths of the 2012 draft, there could be almost as many questions as answers at the safety position. Not that there isn't some legitimate top prospects at safety including J.T. McDonald of Southern Cal, Miami's Ray-Ray Armstrong and Alabama's Robert Lester, each of whom has at least top 50 potetial, however, all three are juniors and none is considered a certainty to enter the upcoming draft. In addition, Miami's Armstrong is one of the Hurricanes facing a lengthy suspension after being implicated as having received improper benefits from incarcerated booster Neil Shapiro. There actually was a 4th junior safety generally rated as a potential second rounder, but the immediate football future of Tennessee's Janzen Jackson is in flux after he was booted from the team, reportedly because of substance abuse issues. Meanwhile, Kenny Tate of Maryland, arguably the top senior safety prospect in the country, has a freakish size-speed combination, but the 220-pounder will play LB this fall and could end up being drafted at that position rather the secondary.

There appears to be something of a drop-off to the next level of safeties, but there are a number of possible late second or early third day prospects at the position including Tony Dye of UCLA, Eddie Whitley of Virginia Tech, and Clemson junior Reshard Hall. For the most part, though, figure that safety is a position that most teams aren't likely going to be able to address until that later rounds. The good news, though, is that actually are a lot of veteran safeties around the country with decent size capable of being at least usefl players at the next level.

Top 20 DB Prospects

#	Player	H/W	School	CL	#	Player	H/W	School	CL
1	T.J. McDonald	6-2, 205	Southern California	JR	11	Blake Gideon	6-0, 205	Texas	SR
2	Ray-Ray Armstrong	6-4, 215	Miami	JR	12	Markelle Martin	6-1, 195	Oklahoma State	SR
3	Robert Lester	6-1, 210	Alabama	JR	13	Sean Cattouse	6-2, 215	California	SR`
4	Kenny Tate	6-3, 220	Maryland	SR	14	Lance Mitchell	6-1, 210	Oregon State	SR
5	Tony Dye	5-11, 205	UCLA	SR	15	Tavon Wilson	6-0, 205	Illinois	SR
6	Eddie Whitley	6-1, 190	Virginia Tech	SR	16	Tramain Thomas	6-0, 200	Arkansas	SR
7	Reshard Hall	6-1, 200	Clemson	JR	17	Winston Guy	6-0, 210	Kentucky	SR
8	Aaron Henry	6-0, 215	Wisconsin	SR	18	Trenton Robinson	5-10, 195	Michigan State	SR
9	Mark Barron	6-2, 220	Alabama	SR	19	Delano Howell	5-11, 195	Stanford	SR
10	George Iloka	6-2, 215	Boise State	SR	20	Harrison Smith	6-1, 215	Notre Dame	SR

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