Houston Texans: 5 small school prospects to monitor at the NFL Combine

BOCA RATON, FL - SEPTEMBER 15: Devin Singletary #5 of the Florida Atlantic Owls celebrates after scoring his fifth touchdown against the Bethune Cookman Wildcats during the first half at FAU Stadium on September 15, 2018 in Boca Raton, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
BOCA RATON, FL - SEPTEMBER 15: Devin Singletary #5 of the Florida Atlantic Owls celebrates after scoring his fifth touchdown against the Bethune Cookman Wildcats during the first half at FAU Stadium on September 15, 2018 in Boca Raton, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 6
Next
CHAPEL HILL, NC – SEPTEMBER 26: Nasir Adderley #23 of the Delaware Fightin Blue Hens tackles Quinshad Davis #14 of the North Carolina Tar Heels during their game at Kenan Stadium on September 26, 2015 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. North Carolina won 41-14. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
CHAPEL HILL, NC – SEPTEMBER 26: Nasir Adderley #23 of the Delaware Fightin Blue Hens tackles Quinshad Davis #14 of the North Carolina Tar Heels during their game at Kenan Stadium on September 26, 2015 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. North Carolina won 41-14. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /

Nasir Adderley, DB, Delaware

2018 stats: 8 games, 48 total tackles, 9 pass deflections, 4 interceptions

The first thing to know about Nasir Adderley is, much like Minkah Fitzpatrick in 2018, he doesn’t yet have a concrete position in the secondary, and that’s not a bad thing.

You want to put him at safety? Great, he can do that, but just know he has a solid build (5-11, 200 pounds), and the range to be anywhere in a flash. He should also test well at the combine in 40-yard dash, and that shows on the field.

Adderley isn’t afraid to hit hard and has a knack for finding the ball in the air. It doesn’t matter if you want him as a box safety or free safety, because he has the skill set  to do both.

What about Adderley playing cornerback? You’ll be happy to know that his zone coverage skills translate well over there. He’s a lengthy guy, with the agility, speed and loose hips to mirror top-notch wide receivers either in the slot or the boundary.

Unfortunately, Delaware used him sparingly in man coverage, meaning the translation to being a man coverage cornerback could take awhile. Adderley certainly has the traits, build, instincts and athleticism to play cornerback as well.

By now you can tell the key word while defining Adderley is versatility. He is a playmaker with the potential to be a star at multiple positions in the secondary. For the Houston Texans, adding a playmaker of Adderley’s level alongside sophomore safety Justin Reid sounds like a good start to rebuilding a secondary.

Round projection: 1st round