2017 NFL Draft: Big Ten’s All-Draft Team

Safety

1st Team Strong Safety: Jabrill Peppers, Michigan (redshirt sophomore)
1st Team Free Safety: Malik Hooker, Ohio State (redshirt sophomore)
2nd Team Strong Safety: Montae Nicholson, Michigan State (junior)
2nd Team Free Safety: Nathan Gerry, Nebraska
Honorable Mention: Marcus Allen, Penn State (junior)
Honorable Mention: Delano Hill, Michigan

Jabrill Peppers is one of the most polarizing prospects in college football. Lots of people want to talk about how he was used incorrectly at Michigan or that he doesn’t have the stats to justify an early selection. But don’t lose sight of the bigger picture. NFL scouts won’t care how Michigan used him or that he didn’t get an interception until the Ohio State game. They will only care about how they can use his skills.

Michigan’s defense was built around him, and he was asked to do one main thing: disrupt. While disruption doesn’t always show up on the stat sheet, his impact can be seen by how he creates opportunities for others around him. He has elite endurance, quickness, and closing burst. He is also highly intelligent and a creative coaching staff is going salivate over how they can use him. He’s a first round talent, don’t let anyone tell you different.

Malik Hooker has mentioned that he is leaning towards returning to school despite scouts and analysts prediction of a first round selection. A one-year starter, Hooker has picked off six passed returning two for scores. Drawing comparisons to a young Ed Reed, Hookers only real weakness is that he’s missed a few tackles by being over aggressive. With the 1st round staring at him, it will be hard to stick with his late November statements of returning to Columbus.

Montae Nicholson was used in a variety of ways at Michigan State. Sometimes those roles played to his strengths, but not always, and that has impacted his draft stock. A likely hybrid player at the next level, Nicholson will be asked to stay at strong safety but be flexible enough to be moved into the box often. He could hear his named called early day three or even as high as day two.

Nathan Gerry is a former linebacker who will likely be converted into a hybrid third safety role where he will be asked to play in the box. Similarly to how the Lions are currently using Miles Killebrew. NFL teams will question why he was suspended for the 2016 opener, as those details weren’t made public.

Marcus Allen’s stock has been on the rise as Penn State made their late stretch run to a Big Ten title. It’s tough to get a read on his stock because he’s been such a late riser, but Bleacher Reports Matt Miller has taken notice and thinks he could climb up draft boards quickly if he declares.

Delano Hill’s coverage skills will land him on an NFL roster and it’s possible he is drafted on day three. NFL defenses are deploying three and four safety sets with more and more frequency in today’s game and this is where Hill’s skills will be best utilized. He may never be a starter at the next level but he can still have a long NFL career.