Broaddus Draft Series- Brandon Taylor

[dbair1967]

Draft preview: LSU S Brandon Taylor

April, 12, 2012

By Tim MacMahon and Bryan Broaddus | ESPNDallas.com

The 24th installment of our draft preview series focuses on LSU safety Brandon Taylor.

Scouts Inc. ranks: No. 3 safety, No. 68 overall

Bio: Three-year starter at LSU who was a team captain for the SEC champions and BCS runners-up as a senior. Finished career with 160 tackles (11.5 for losses), 15 passes broken up and four interceptions. Had 71 tackles and two interceptions as a senior, when he wore No. 18, an honor at LSU bestowed on the senior who best represents the program.

Size: 5-foot-11 ¼, 209 pounds
40-yard dash: 4.53 seconds
Vertical jump: 33.5 inches
Broad jump: 9-foot-10
20-yard shuttle: 4.37 seconds
Three-cone drill: 7.32 seconds

Broaddus Breakdown (viewed Oregon, West Virginia and Arkansas games): Is built like a strong safety, but you see him do some free safety things. Does a really nice job of finding the ball and getting in on the play. ... Plays off the blocks well. Will bounce off them at times. ... Was unique to study in the way they he would appear like he was in a bad position on the tackle, then readjust himself to wrap up to bring the man down. Can be a physical tackler. ... Has a burst to drive on the ball in coverage. Will also break well when the ball is thrown to the outside. Shows some range from the middle of the field. Showed some quickness with his range. Had in interception in which he was playing center field and the ball was tipped but he was right there to make the play. ... Got fooled on a vertical route in the West Virginia game when he got caught peeking at the quarterback instead of playing his man. ... Observed him in coverage out of the slot where he got beat, but then the next time was able to drive on the ball and make the plays. ... Is very aware when it comes to picking up players in coverage. Times when the corners would bust their coverage and he was able to adjust from his man and recover to help on the play. ... Did a nice job of driving on the football when it was thrown in front of him. Plays with good footwork, which has been a problem for several of the safeties that I have studied this spring. ... If he does have a trait that bothers me, at times he will take a strange angle to the ball, which will put him in funny positions to tackle. But when he is on, things are OK. ... Would be an interesting option for a team for two reasons: he is physical and he does have coverage skills. ... Was a former high school cornerback, so you see that he is comfortable carrying a receiver in the route. Has a feel for how to drive and break on the ball as well. ... Has the strong safety build but also shows free safety traits, which will give him an opportunity in this league.

 

[cmd34]

Jag.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

Yeah, I watched a youtube "highlight prospect" video of him and he looked pretty bad.

For what it's worth, he's top 5 on Mayock's safety list.

 

[cmd34]

well he did keep Danny McCray on the bench.

 

[dbair1967]

For what it's worth, he's top 5 on Mayock's safety list.

Honestly past Barron, there aint much that looks to be worthwhile in this years safety crop. If we dont take him, wouldnt hurt my feelings if they dont take anyone at the safety spot.

Sounds like Georgia FS Bacarri Rambo might declare for the supp draft, although its because he got busted again. Has tremendous talent and is a real ball hawk with a knack for big hits too, but he might be a major risk. Has good size/speed and makes a ton of plays.

 

[dbair1967]

well he did keep Danny McCray on the bench.

so did Abe Elam

 

[Bob Sacamano]

Honestly past Barron, there aint much that looks to be worthwhile in this years safety crop. If we dont take him, wouldnt hurt my feelings if they dont take anyone at the safety spot.

Sounds like Georgia FS Bacarri Rambo might declare for the supp draft, although its because he got busted again. Has tremendous talent and is a real ball hawk with a knack for big hits too, but he might be a major risk. Has good size/speed and makes a ton of plays.

Yeah, I pointed out in another thread that once you get past 2 or 3 safeties, it gets pretty sad. Unless the safety crop is stacked, which this year's isn't.

 

[cmd34]

Sounds like Georgia FS Bacarri Rambo might declare for the supp draft, although its because he got busted again. Has tremendous talent and is a real ball hawk with a knack for big hits too, but he might be a major risk. Has good size/speed and makes a ton of plays.

every blue moon you make a good point David. Rambo would be a very nice pick-up in the Supplemental Draft. I'd risk a 2nd if I was convinced by his "pot brownie" story and maybe a 4th or 5th even if I wasn't.

 

[dbair1967]

every blue moon you make a good point David. Rambo would be a very nice pick-up in the Supplemental Draft. I'd risk a 2nd if I was convinced by his "pot brownie" story and maybe a 4th or 5th even if I wasn't.

If I knew he was gonna be clean, spending next years 2nd for this guy would be a steal.

He'll almost assuredly be a first round pick next year if he has another good season.

This guy makes a ton of plays.

 

[dbair1967]

Career Highs: 14 tackles vs. Florida in 2010
*2 interceptions at Ole Miss in 2011
*Long interception return of 51 yards vs. New Mexico St. in 2011
*1 interception return for a TD (2x), last vs. No. 24 Auburn in 2011

2011: Named First Team All-American by Associated Press, Yahoo Sports and Rivals.com and Second Team All-American by Walter Camp, Phil Steele and Sports Illustrated.
*All-SEC First Team by Associated Press, ESPN.com and SEC Coaches and Second Team by Phil Steele.
*Started all 13 games in which he appeared recording 55 tackles, recovered a fumble, had eight PBUs and a team-best eight INTs.
*Ranked first in the SEC and second NCAA in interceptions (0.62 per game) and second in the SEC in passed defended (16).
*In Outback Bowl vs. No. 12 Mich. St. recorded three tackles, an INT and an PBU.
*Recorded five tackles in SEC Championship vs. No. 1 LSU.
*Had seven tackles vs. Kentucky.
*Named CFPA Honorable Mention DB of the Week after he returned an INT 24 yards for a TD and had a tackle vs. No. 24 Auburn.
*Had six tackles and a 51-yard INT return vs. New Mexico St.
*Notched a team-high eight tackles, an INT and two PBUs at Vanderbilt.
*Named to Phil Steele's 2011 Midseason All-SEC Second Team.
*Registered six tackles and a pass break-up vs. Mississippi State.
*Named CFPA National DB of the Week after he recorded four tackles and a career-high two INTs at Ole Miss.
*Recorded four tackles and a then career-long INT return of 43 yards vs. Coastal Carolina.
*Recorded six tackles, an INT and a PBU vs. No. 12 South Carolina.
*Maxwell Award and CFPA Defensive Back Trophy watch lists.
*Preseason All-SEC Second Team by Athlon Sports and Third Team by Phil Steele.
*Recipient of the Aubrey Cecil Rhodes Football Scholarship.

2010: All-SEC Third Team by Phil Steele.
*Earned one of team's Most Improved Player Awards for defense.
*Started all 13 games recording 82 tackles at while also notching three interceptions, three pass break ups and forcing three fumbles.
*Led or tied for the team lead in tackles three times.
*Ranked 18th in the SEC with 6.3 tackles per game.
*Returned an INT 39 yards for a TD vs. Idaho St.
*Registered a career-high 14 tackles and a pass break-up vs. Florida.
*Led the team with a then-career-high 12 tackles at No. 24 S. Carolina.
*Tied for the team lead with seven tackles vs. No. 12 Arkansas.
*Had six tackles and forced a pair of fumbles vs. Ga. Tech.
*Recorded six tackles and an interception at No. 2 Auburn.
*Named preseason All-SEC fourth team by Phil Steele.
*Preseason national ranking of #25 at free safety by Phil Steele.
*Recipient of the Susan an Mark Tomlinson Football Scholarship.

2009: Named one of team's Newcomer of the Year award winners for defense.
*Appeared in 11 games making 25 tackles, five pass break-ups and two interceptions.
*Registered a season-high four tackles vs. Ariz. St., at Tennessee and vs. Texas A&M.
*Also had an 18-yard interception return for a TD at Tennessee and blocked a punt vs. Texas A&M.
*Posted three tackle performances at Vanderbilt and vs. No. 25 Auburn.
*Recipient of Irvin M. Wofford Football Scholarship.

2008: Redshirted.
*Named to SEC Freshman Academic Honor Roll.
*Named to Director's Honor Roll for fall 2008 semester.

High School: Seminole County, coached by Alan Ingram....Prep-Star All-Southeast Region...SuperPrep All-Dixie Team...2008 Rivals.com athletes (40), Georgia Top 50 (29)....UGASports Georgia Top 50 (21)... Scout.com three-star prospect, #128 prospect in the South;, #23 prospect in Georgia, #29 safety in America...2007 Atlanta Journal-Constitution Class A All-State Honorable Mention...2007 Georgia Sports Writers Association Class A All-State Honorable Mention...as a senior in 2007 rushed for 692 yards on 110 attempts and 17 TDs and completed 34 of 75 passes for 615 yards and four TD's...also recorded 65 tackles and two interceptions, one of which was returned for a TD...returned a punt and a kickoff for a TD...as a junior in 2006, rushed for 1,186 yards (9.7 per carry) and 21 touchdowns and added 488 more yards passing including seven touchdowns...also recorded 58 tackles, four interceptions and recovered five fumbles on defense...Class A All-State Honorable Mention as a junior.

Personal: BACARRI RAMBO; Born: June 27, 1990; Major: Consumer Economics.