2009 DRAFT PROSPECTS: Safeties

[MrBigglesworth]

2009 TOP SAFETY PROSPECTS

[MrBigglesworth]

1

Jeffrey Buckner, Wake Forest, Sr. (5'11", 196, age 22) - 2008 stats (3 Int, 4 PD, 26 PC, 84 tackles, 14 TFL)
Buckner started 44 games for the Demon Deacons, tallying 345 tackles, 48 tackles for loss, and 16 interceptions. Jeff was the star of a disappointing ACC team, finishing with several All-ACC honors over his career. He was also the punt and kick returner for Wake during his last three years, but had some fumbling problems (4 fumbles in 50 touches) during his senior year that may scare some IFL teams away from using him as a returner.

AS SCOUTED (in college): 98/100
STRENGTHS: Zone defense
WEAKNESSES: Man-to-man defense
OTHER NOTES: --
PROJECTION: Late first or early second

[MrBigglesworth]

2

Neal Pearson, Kentucky, Sr. (6’0", 187, age 24) - 2008 stats (4 Int, 9 PD, 18 PC, 65 tackles, 8 TFL)
Pearson is another 4 year starter, notching 289 tackles, 46 TFL, 9 Int and 37 PD. After high school, Pearson went to an academic prep school for two years to get his SAT scores up, but still Neal narrowly avoided academic probation, ‘finishing’ (he will unlikely graduate) with a 1.57 GPA. It is rumored that Pearson has little drive to go with his sparse intellect, and his Wonderlic score is predicted to be in the single digits. But he can still play football, being honored twice as a first-team All-SEC safety.

AS SCOUTED (in college): 88/100
STRENGTHS: Man-to-man defense
WEAKNESSES: Punt returning
OTHER NOTES: --
PROJECTION: Late first or early second

[MrBigglesworth]

3

TJ Cobbins, Bowling Green, Jr. (6’2", 212, age 22) - 2007 stats (1 Int, 2 PD, 9 PC, 24 tackles, 3 TFL)
TJ is an immense raw talent. He came in as a freshman and played in 13 games for Bowling Green, but didn’t adjust to the college academic atmosphere and went on academic probation his sophomore year. While on probation he failed to increase his GPA and instead decided to enter the IFL draft, so his entire college career consists of about 150 plays for a MAC team. Raw. Any team that selects TJ could have a great player in a couple of years, or a complete turd.

AS SCOUTED (in college): 24/100
STRENGTHS: Interceptions
WEAKNESSES: Kick returning
OTHER NOTES: --
PROJECTION: Second round