He also offers experience at both cornerback and safety, but I don’t think corner is in his future prospects at this level. A defensive back that plays on thefootball field‘s strong side is known as a strong safety. Strong safety is more frequently utilized in run defense and is typically larger and more powerful than free safety. As they are responsible for preventing the run on a running play that sneaks through, they will often be positioned near theline of scrimmagethan the free safety.
Overall Divine should be an early to mid day three pick that fits a lot of what Chris Ballard likes. He was a Senior Bowl guy, Team Captain, productive, and he has that positional versatility. I would say keep an eye on this playmaker on day three of the NFL Draft. When I reached out to a few NFL scouts for feedback on Battle’s projection, there was a pretty healthy range of opinions, from the second to fifth rounds. While I don’t see the high-end traits to project him as a future Pro Bowl pick, I do think Battle has the requisite talent to earn a starting role in an NFL secondary very early in his career.
To summarize, the SAF positions of free safety and strong safety are comparable with only a few subtle differences. Players who play safety can switch between the two positions, but some professionals are far more suited to one than the other. Since strong safeties must also pay attention to the running game, free safeties are typically given more pass coverage responsibilities than strong safeties. A free safety needs to be quick, have the excellent tackling ability, and be capable of comprehending the quarterback with ease. A wide receiver and defensive back from the San Diego area, Skinner bypassed several Power 5 offers and signed with Boise State.
My top-ranked senior safety to start the season, Skinner is a unique prospect because you can count the number of lincoln 3350 helmeteties taller than 6-foot-4 on one hand. He plays with the speed and range of a smaller athlete but strikes with the power of a 240-pound linebacker. Similar in ways to Jayron Kearse, Skinner has some areas to clean up, but his athleticism and physicality give defenses options. He can play the post, roam underneath or be a matchup weapon against tight ends or big slots.
A defensive tackle who plays opposite the center is often called a nose tackle and abbreviated as NT. In a 3-4 defense, an inside linebacker is an ILB and an outside linebacker an OLB. Defensive backs may be abbreviated as DB but are more typically broken down into cornerbacks and safeties, or CB and S, respectively. A strong safety is abbreviated as SS and a free safety as FS.