11 Manti Delano

The type of prospect that checks off all the right boxes. Always looks to be one step ahead of others. Athletic enough to get across the field and erase a touchdown, but also physical enough to come down hill and meet a running back in the A or B gap. Smooth and in control while in reverse as he keeps eyes in the backfield. Quick to trigger. Plants his cleats and drives towards the football better than most his age. Takes the right angles while in pursuit and has a few tricks to shed blocks once he meets traffic. Has experience working out of a variety of different coverages and has shown that he can be rather effective as slot defender in certain situations. Owns a high football IQ, which likely stems from his film study habits as he likes to watch cut up after cut up and identify trends. Viewed by his high school coaches as not only a team leader, but also a winner and someone that is going to do whatever it takes to elevate the play of those around him. Added almost 30 pounds of muscle between freshman and senior seasons and is now hovering right around 200 pounds. Will need to keep progressing and not get complacent, but should be viewed as one of the top safeties and overall prospects in the cycle given instincts, physical play style and ability to change directions. Will provide immediate value at the next level and likely isn’t going to need much time to get adjusted to the speed of the game on Saturdays. Should play on Sundays like his father and brother soon will if everything comes together.