| Here’s a look at the top sophomore safety prospects entering the 2010 season.
 1. Ray Ray Armstrong (Strong Safety) – Highly touted coming out of high school, Armstrong starred in the Sunshine state not only as a safety but as a duel-threat quarterback. Many had him slotted as the top safety in his class and while we didn’t see him flash that vast potential on a game-in, game-out basis, it was hard to deny he was among the top athletes on the field whenever he stepped on the gridiron. Against the Oklahoma Sooners the Florida product was all over the field, recording a season-high seven tackles while drawing oohs and aahs from the crowd. If we can see more performances like that in 2010 then Armstrong could be well on his way to joining the great line of safeties coming out of “The U”. Bennie Blades, Ed Reed, Brandon Meriweather, Kenny Phillips and the late Sean Taylor—whose number 26 Armstrong proudly wears—were all first round picks coming out of Miami. This baby ‘Cane can be that good. He’s 6’4”, 220 pounds and already looks ready to play on Sundays, possessing excellent speed for a man of that size. The Hurricane is an explosive hitter with all the tools necessary to excel in the box and take blockers head on. In pass coverage his size and athleticism should allow him to match up with tight ends and lock them down. Armstrong did his damage in ten games as true freshman, missing three contests with a knee injury which bears watching. Expect Armstrong to team up with fellow sophomore Vaughn Telemaque to form one of the top safety duos in the country over the next two or three years. ACC wide receivers and tight ends looking to go across the middle of the field best beware.
2009 Stats: 21 tackles, no interceptions, one pass defended
2. Rashard Hall, Clemson (Free Safety) – When the St. Augustine, Florida native arrived at Clemson the Tigers were stacked at the safety position, so he red-shirted his first season as a collegian. Last year as a red-shirt freshman Hall saw over 500 snaps, playing in all 14 games while starting half of them. His 55 tackles were good for fifth on the team, ahead of 2010 draftees Ricky Sapp and Crezdon Butler. It was also more than enough playing time for Hall to display his variety of skills, which include attacking the line of scrimmage and roaming deep center field in Death Valley. Against the run he used his quick feet to make blockers miss, get into the backfield—to the tune of three tackles for loss—and take proper angles to chase down ball carriers in the open field. Hall is blessed with superb instincts and elite ball skills; he recorded six interceptions as a freshman. His speed and awareness keep him around the action and he has the timing and soft hands to finish plays once the ball is in the air. While the safety tips the scales at just 195 pounds he was named Clemson’s “Power Hour” Strongman Champion last spring and shouldn’t be underestimated when roaming the defensive backfield. At 6’2” he has excellent length and his frame should allow him to add some bulk over the next three seasons before he moves on to the league where they play for pay. Hall should benefit from playing alongside DeAndre McDaniel and if he lives up to expectations not many teams will be able to rival the Tigers’ last line of defense.
2009 Stats: 55 tackles, six interceptions, eight passes defended
 3. Janzen Jackson, Tennessee (Free Safety) – The Louisiana product is among the top young cover safeties in the nation. In fact some believe he has the skills to play cornerback, which is music to the ears of NFL defensive coordinators. Jackson has the speed, fluidity, and instincts to match up with wide receivers and should benefit from playing against several future pro wide outs in the SEC. The Volunteer has flashed the ability to play the deep zone as well as man-up in single coverage. At 6’0” and 181 pounds Jackson will have to bulk up to excel at the next level. He will probably never be a great in-the-box safety and he will always be better in coverage than he is run support, but he still needs to put on a good 20 pounds—if not more—to be respectable in all aspects of his game. With Eric Berry gone Jackson is expected to lead the Tennessee secondary. If he is up to the challenge it will go a long way to making a good impression on NFL decision makers. In addition to showing scouts he has what it takes to make it in the next level on the field Jackson will have a microscope on him wherever he goes. One could argue that his off-field behavior could dictate his draft stock as much as his performances in Neyland Stadium for the Vols. Jackson was one of three Tennessee football players arrested in 2009 for attempted aggravated robbery, but the prosecution quickly dropped the charges against Jackson once they learned he was unaware of the incident until after the fact. “Wrong place, wrong time” is a phrase used often by defense attorneys, but in this case it appears to be the truth. Nevertheless, if any other character issues do crop up for Jackson people will begin to wonder.
2009 Stats: 37 tackles, one interceptions, four passes defended
Others To Watch: (Listed Alphabetically By Position)
Free Safeties:
Daren Bates, Auburn
Brandon Bishop, North Carolina State
T.J. McDonald, USC
Gerald Moore, Ohio
Vaughn Telemaque, Miami
Strong Safeties:
Cody Davis, Texas Tech
Drew Frey, Cincinnati
DeVonte Holloman, South Carolina
Jordan Kovacs, Michigan
Nick Moody, Florida State
Scouting 2013:
Quarterbacks (6.14.10)
Running Backs (6.15.10)
Wide Receivers (6.16.10)
Tight Ends (6.17.10)
Offensive Line (6.18.10)
Defensive Tackles (6.21.10)
Defensive Ends (6.22.10)
Linebackers (6.23.10)
Cornerbacks (6.24.10)
Draft Watch:
2011 Preseason Position Rankings
2012 Preseason Position Rankings
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Photo Courtesy of University of Miami Sports Media Relations Office, Elizabeth Olivier/UT Athletics
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