2026 Draft: Safety

[manxman2601]

Someone to watch:

Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, 6-3, 210. Toledo.

One of the highest graded draftable players in CFB currently. A career missed tackle rate of 8.7%. Equally proficient in run support and coverage. Leads the FBS with 8 career forced fumbles.

 

[Clonamery]

Next up: Bishop Fitzgerald USC, 5' 11" - 205. RS Sr.

Community College to NC State (2 years) to USC.



3 games, 3 INTs (with a Pick 6)

 

[manxman2601]

Next up: Bishop Fitzgerald USC, 5' 11" - 205. RS Sr.

Community College to NC State (2 years) to USC.



3 games, 3 INTs (with a Pick 6)

That's funny because I was thinking about posting about him myself. 5'11" worries me a little but that's Devin McCourty's height so not disastrous.

Former QB so knows how to read the game.

 

[Clonamery]

That's funny because I was thinking about posting about him myself. 5'11" worries me a little but that's Devin McCourty's height so not disastrous.

Former QB so knows how to read the game.

He doesn't play small and he seems to have length (arms). Be interesting to see how it goes as the competition gets better.

Check out his community college tape, it's like watching an 18 yr old against a bunch of 15 year olds:

 

[manxman2601]

Bishop Fitzgerald NC State highlights



I have some thoughts

1. All three INTs were thrown straight to him. Give him credit for being in the right position, but he can hardly be said to be making a play.

2. Didn't look especially fast when returning those INTs

3. Triggers well in run support. He's certainly instinctive there.

4. Like that he tries to wrap up with his tackling, but holding on to one leg probably doesn't cut it in the NFL.

5. We didn't get to see what he's actually like in coverage which is a shame.

It's a very small sample size of plays but I didn't see anything that makes me think 'he's the guy'. I can't fault his production this season though so I look forward to seeing more of him.

 

[manxman2601]

It hadn't occurred to me to use AI for getting scouting reports until now but I just ran one on Grok on Bishop Fitzgerald and it's really detailed. Because it summarises both the web and X posts it's a good way of getting a broader idea of the prospect.

Here's some of what I learned.

Estimated forty - 4.5 to 4.55
Fits best as free safety in two safety looks
High football IQ
Fluid hips and lateral agility
High level processor
Veteran awareness in recognising pre-snap tendencies.

Garbage in, garbage out and all that and these scouting reports will get more detailed as draft season gets underway but it's going to be a good way of getting pre draft season info on prospects for which there's not a huge amount of readily available information.

I can't believe I didn't think about it before now. Well I can, I'm a luddite.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

I'm a luddite.

So am I and I work in a high tech industry.

 

[mayoclinic]

 

[manxman2601]

The only two leading safeties with zero missed tackles a quarter of the way through the season are

Michael Taafe - Texas
Kamari Ramsey - USC

For comparisons sake, Caleb Downs and Dillon Thieneman are on 4.

There are two new names for you to get to know, both getting some early season buzz.

Genesis Smith, Arizona (5 missed tackles) 72 on consensus big board
Amare Ferrell - Indiana (1 missed tackle) 98 on consensus big board

 

[mayoclinic]

To compare and contrast, tackle rates last season:

Craig Woodson - 8 missed tackles, 8.6% missed tackle rate.

Selected 2025 Prospects in 2024

Caleb Downs - 10, 10.5

Michael Taafe - 19, 21.3

Dillon Thieneman - 15, 12.8

Kamari Ramsey - 15, 20.8

Keon Sabb - 6, 14.0

Rod Moore - Didn't Play

Tao Johnson - 13, 16.3

Clearly Michael Taafe and Kamari Ramsey need to improve this year.

Taafe has apparently improved on his 21% missed tackle percentage from last year.

 

[mayoclinic]

Shhh on Amare Ferrell ... don't want anyone paying attention to him. Sleeper S pick for me, my backup plan after Thieneman.

He is not the Droid you're looking for.

 

[manxman2601]

Shhh on Amare Ferrell ... don't want anyone paying attention to him. Sleeper S pick for me, my backup plan after Thieneman.

He is not the Droid you're looking for.

He looks to be the pure free safety to compliment Woodson's versatility.

 

[manxman2601]

 

[mayoclinic]

 

[dliverey44]

Can't tackle? Has no neck. 'bout it.

Uh Oh, start the neck is too short talk

 

[manxman2601]

Grok on Amare Ferrell. Looking forward to the Oregon game in a weeks time.

Scouting Report: Amare Ferrell, S, Indiana Hoosiers​

Player Overview​

Amare Ferrell is a junior safety for the Indiana Hoosiers, entering his third year as a starter in the 2025 season under new head coach Curt Cignetti. A four-star recruit from Columbia High School in Lake City, Florida (rated No. 35 DB prospect by Rivals), Ferrell arrived in Bloomington as a highly touted defensive back with multi-sport athleticism from his high school days. At 6-foot-2 and 200 pounds, he offers ideal size for the position, allowing him to handle both deep coverage and box responsibilities effectively. Ferrell made an immediate impact as a true freshman in 2023, playing all 12 games without redshirting—a rarity for IU—and logging 16 starts over his first two seasons (28 games total). His 2024 campaign was a breakout, earning him the No. 6 PFF grade among returning Big Ten safeties and positioning him as Indiana's top NFL prospect heading into 2025. Scouts view him as an "underrated" talent with "the sky's the limit" potential, especially in Cignetti's aggressive, transfer-heavy defense that's already off to a 4-0 start.

2025 Season Stats (Through Week 4, Sep. 20 vs. Illinois)​

Category	Total	Per Game	Notes
Tackles (Solo/Total)	8/ (est. 20+)	5.0+	Strong run support; 2 tackles + PBU in opener vs. Western Michigan
Interceptions	3	0.75	One each vs. Western Michigan (Aug. 30), Indiana State (Sep. 12), and UConn (Sep. 6)
Passes Defended	3	0.75	Ball production highlights coverage instincts
Tackles for Loss	1.0	0.25	4 split TFL yards; versatile in sub-packages
Forced Fumbles	0	0	Career: 1.5 sacks, 5 INTs total

Ferrell's early-season ball-hawking (3 INTs through four games) has scouts buzzing, with his Week 4 performance vs. Illinois earning praise for "sticking out like a sore thumb" on tape—disrupting plays with physicality and range. In 2024, he posted elite coverage metrics: 78.3 PFF grade, zero TDs allowed on 442 snaps, and a 45.0 passer rating against.

Strengths​

• Ball Skills and Coverage: Elite instincts in zone and man, with soft hands and great timing on picks—evident in his three early 2025 INTs. His 2024 PFF numbers (78.3 coverage grade) underscore shutdown potential deep and in the slot, where he can mirror routes fluidly.
• Size and Physicality: At 6'2"/200, Ferrell excels vs. the run, willingly filling alleys and delivering big hits. He's a strong safety archetype who can match up against TEs or slot WRs, making him scheme-versatile in modern defenses.
• Athletic Traits and Motor: Long speed (sub-4.5 40-yard dash projection) and change-of-direction quickness shine in pursuit and recovery angles. Relentless competitor with leadership intangibles; he's been a constant in IU's secondary rebuild.
• Run Defense: Effective tackler who sheds blocks well, contributing to IU's top-20 national run D in 2025 (allowing under 100 rushing YPG through four games).

Areas for Improvement (Weaknesses)​

• Consistency in Tackling: While physical, Ferrell can miss occasional arm tackles in space—refining wrap-up technique could boost his missed-tackle rate (around 8% in 2024 per PFF).
• Experience in Big Games: As a junior, he's unproven against elite Big Ten offenses (e.g., upcoming vs. Northwestern on Oct. 5). Needs to stack stats in high-leverage spots to quiet "underrated" label.
• Versatility Depth: Primarily a strong safety; adding more nickel reps could expand his appeal, though his size helps mitigate this.

NFL Projection & Fit​

Ferrell is emerging as a Day 2 staple in 2026 NFL Draft mocks, projected in the second or third round with first-round upside if he sustains ball production (target: 5+ INTs, 60+ tackles). Currently slotted as Indiana's top prospect and a top-10 safety in some Big Ten rankings, his stock rose post-Week 4 after a standout tape vs. Illinois. Scouts highlight his "nice-sized" frame and effectiveness against the pass/run as traits for hybrid roles in the NFL. Ideal fits include teams needing versatile back-end help, like the Chicago Bears (replacing aging vets like Jaquan Brisker) or Philadelphia Eagles in Vic Fangio's scheme. Long-term ceiling: Multi-year starter with Pro Bowl flashes, akin to a budget Xavier McKinney. At 21, Ferrell's rapid rise—from true freshman contributor to draft riser—signals high floor and untapped tools; monitor his Oct. 18 clash with Nebraska for another stock booster.

 

[mayoclinic]

d%#*!@t.

 

[manxman2601]

d%#*!@t.

We have the best draft forum on the internet but even then, I don't think NFL GMs come here for tips and information.

 

[Clonamery]

Ferrell & Ponds in the same Secondary.

 

[manxman2601]

Ferrell & Ponds in the same Secondary.

That would necessitate giving up on Marcus Jones. I'm not ready to do that yet.