Here are the scouting reports for all three:
Reggie Nelson
S | (6'0", 198, 4.43) | FLORIDA
Scouts Grade: 95
Strengths: A centerfielder type with outstanding athletic ability and speed. He shows good leverage and quickness in his pedal. Gets a deep drop and does a fine job of keeping the play in front of him. He shows excellent range in zone coverage. Consistently displays the ability to reach the sideline as a cover-3 free safety down the middle. He's instinctive and diagnoses plays quickly in coverage; he does a very good job of reading quarterbacks' eyes while dropping. He displays good ball skills and will catch the ball at its highest point. He shows very good closing burst in coverage and in run support. He isn't afraid to throw his body around. Lowers his shoulder and shows good initial pop for his size. He will play the ball first, but he also will play the body when he can't get to the ball.
Weaknesses: Lacks ideal size and strength. Is not capable of matching up in the box. Much better in coverage than in run support. He's frequently late in diagnosing the run. He shows good initial pop for his size but he's not overly strong as a tackler. He leads with his shoulder on most occasions and looks for the knockout blow. As a result, he puts his head down and fails to wrap up on too many occasions. He has struggled academically; there are concerns regarding his mental capacity and ability to get his teammates lined up from the safety position.
Overall: Nelson originally attended Coffeyville (Kan.) Community College in 2003 after failing to qualify academically and played football there during the 2004 season, when he registered a team-high 72 tackles, six interceptions (one returned for a touchdown), two fumble recoveries, and four blocked kicks. He transferred to Florida in January of 2005 and then appeared in 11 contests (four starts) before tearing a knee ligament during bowl practice which required surgery, finishing the year with 46 total tackles, four tackles for loss, one forced fumble, one pass defended, and one interception. In 2006, Nelson became a first team All-American after starting all 14 games and recording 51 total tackles, two tackles for loss, six interceptions (one returned for a touchdown), five pass-breakups, one fumble recovery, and two blocked kicks. He also returned 12 punts for 93 yards in 2006.
Nelson lacks ideal size and he has limitations in run support. However, he possesses outstanding speed, athletic ability and ball skills in coverage. He has the best range of any safety prospect in the 2007 class and he can instantly upgrade the coverage skills of an NFL secondary as a centerfielder-type free safety. Nelson projects as one of the top-three safety prospects in this year's class and he should be taken in the mid-to-late portion of the first round.
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Michael Griffin
S | (5'11", 195, 4.5) | TEXAS
Scouts Grade: 84
Strengths: Shows the ability to change directions quickly, explodes out of cuts and has good short-area man-to-man cover skills. Possesses good top-end speed, has long arms and can cover the deep middle of the field when he makes the right reads. Is tall, has good leaping ability and flashes the ability to catch the ball at its highest point. Possesses decent ball skills and is capable of making some big plays in coverage. He fills hard versus the run, possesses excellent closing speed for the position and can be an explosive open-field tackler capable of knocking the ball loose. Plays with a good motor, is willing in run support and always seems to be around the ball at the end of the play. Has blocked six kicks, can cover kicks and should make an immediate impact on special teams.
Weaknesses: Lacks elite size, doesn't have great lower-body strength and is vulnerable to getting engulfed when he lines up in the box. He can be over-aggressive at times and will get caught peeking in the backfield. He over-pursues at times and will get caught out of position as a tackler on occasion. He will take some false steps and needs to be coached to improve his recognition skills. Though durability isn't a substantial concern, he has been slowed by injuries at times.
Overall: Griffin saw action in 12 games (two starts; nickel package) during his true freshman season in 2003 as the backup strong safety registering 65 total tackles, five tackles for loss, two sacks, two pass-breakups, three forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery. In 2004, he played in all 12 games (one start) finishing the year with 49 total tackles, two tackles for loss, one sack, one interception, three pass-breakups, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, and two blocked kicks. Griffin started 12 of 13 games at strong safety in 2005 and recorded 124 total tackles, four tackles for loss, three interceptions, eight pass-breakups, three fumble recoveries, one forced fumble, and four blocked kicks. In 2006 he started all 13 games at free safety, registering 126 total tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, one sack, 10 pass-breakups, four forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, two blocked kicks, and four interceptions. Griffin was named a second team All-American (media) and a first team All-Big 12 (media and coaches) performer.
Griffin doesn't have elite size and he needs to improve his consistency as a tackler. However, he has the frame to get bigger, he is extremely "coachable" and he always seems to be in on big plays. Griffin is a relentless run supporter, he displays very good range in deep coverage and he is one of the best special team's players in the 2007 draft class. If coached properly, Griffin has the physical tools to emerge as an upper-echelon starting free safety in the NFL. That's why, despite a sub-par senior season, we believe Griffin warrants consideration early in the second round.
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Brandon Meriweather
S | (5'10", 192, 4.52) | MIAMI (FLA.)
Scouts Grade: 79
Flags: (B: BULK/SIZE) Lacks size/bulk for position(C: CHARACTER) Problems on and off the field(D: DURABILITY) Player that can't stay healthy
Strengths: Is a versatile safety prospect with good range versus the run and pass. He lacks ideal size but fills hard versus the run. Shows better power at the point of attack as a tackler than his size would indicate. He plays with a great motor and a mean streak. He makes his presence known over the middle of the field and will throw his body around. Very reliable tackler in the open field. He shows good instincts and initial quickness. Diagnoses plays quickly and consistently takes solid angles. He has better than average range in deep zone coverage. His ball skills are adequate. Shows very good football intelligence and is a leader in the secondary. Great experience at the highest level of collegiate competition.
Weaknesses: Lacks ideal bulk and must add weight to his frame. Fills hard versus the run and could match up in-the-box at times on the collegiate level, but he is not big enough to do the same in the NFL. His shoulder surgery in 2006 is concerning, especially for an undersized safety. Character is also a concern following the stomping incident versus FIU as a senior.
Overall: Meriweather played in three games as a true freshman in 2002, before suffering a season-ending injury, which resulted in him receiving a medical redshirt. He returned in 2003, appeared in all 13 games, and recorded 22 total tackles, one interception, and five pass-breakups. In 2004, Meriweather played in all 12 games (seven starts after a shoulder injury kept him out of the starting lineup for five contests) and registered 62 total tackles, two tackles for loss, two interceptions, five pass-breakups, and two forced fumbles. Meriweather played in all 12 games in 2005 and finished the season with 115 total tackles, 13 tackles for loss, one sack, three interceptions, seven pass-breakups, two forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery. He underwent off-season shoulder surgery and missed spring practice in 2006. Meriweather returned in 2006 and started 11 of 12 games (suspended for the Duke game for his role in the brawl with Florida International) recording 57 total tackles, five tackles for loss, one sack, eight pass-breakups, and one interception. He saw action at free safety, strong safety, and cornerback and was named second team All-ACC.
Meriweather is an experienced, instinctive and athletic defensive back. While some see him at cornerback in the NFL -- where he spent significant time as a senior -- we believe Meriweather is best suited to play free safety. He lacks ideal size but has room on his frame to add bulk. He grades out as a second-round prospect on film study alone, but concerns regarding his character and durability could cause him to slip a round or two in this year's draft.
* Player biographies are provided by Scouts Inc.
