2018 NFL Draft: Kyzir White Scouting Report
By Jon Dove
West Virginia’s Kyzir White is one of the bigger hitting safeties in the 2018 NFL Draft.
Kyzir White is someone who immediate jumps off the screen as a physical presence. His style of play will makes him one of the more fun prospects to watch in the 2018 NFL Draft class. It’s also something defensive coordinators will really love.
White possesses a solid frame and average height for the position. He is a quick-twitch athlete capable of covering a ton of ground in a hurry. This is a defender who makes plays from sideline to sideline and behind the line of scrimmage.
West Virginia asked White to mainly work near the line of scrimmage and in the slot. This allowed them to use him in run support and as a blitzer. White is an elite run defender from the safety position. He plays at 100% speed all the time and is constantly pursuing the ball carrier.
His short area burst helps him close ground in a hurry. White is also physical at the point of attack and will take on blockers with his hands.
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He is a thumper who also squares up to make reliable tackles. White’s ability to generate tackles for loss is a major positive. He does a great job reading the play and fires into the backfield. This includes working off the edge to close the back door.
White has plenty of experience as a blitzer and shows the ability to get home. This skill set will absolutely be something defensive coaches utilize at the next level.
In coverage, White shows fluid hips and the speed to keep pace. The problem is that he hasn’t spent much time working in coverage. Most of his time in coverage has come working in the slot locked up in man.
White registered 3 interceptions this past year, but doesn’t have the greatest ball skills. There were a handful of passes that White dropped throughout the course of the year. This is an area where he’ll need to show improvement.
He will need some time to develop a feel for zone if that’s what he’s asked to do in the next level. However, White should be able to crack the line because of his ability to make tackles and cover ground. His coverage skills will improve with better coaching and more experience.