It is difficult to believe that a prospect from Southern Utah is as polarizing as Miles Killebrew, but this is exactly the case as people around the draft community are split with the combination of his upside and uncertainty. While he is a physically imposing safety who can make splash plays here and there, does he have the play speed and consistency to fully transition as a difference maker at the next level?

SS Miles Killebrew

College: Southern Utah
Year: RS Senior
Birth Year: N/A
Height: 6-2
Weight: 217
Arm Length: 32 1/8
Hand Size: 9 1/2

Combine Results

40 Time: 4.65
Bench: 22 reps
Vertical: 38 inches
Broad: 127 inches
3-Cone: 6.93
Short Shuttle: 4.18
60-yard Shuttle: 11.02

Analysis

The first thing that must be said with Killebrew is that he is one of the most physically imposing players in this class, regardless of position. He is not afraid to lay the wood on every given down and play at a 100 mph speed, for better or worse as I will explain that later. There are splash plays like this that make NFL evaluators ooh and aah, but can he do that on a consistent basis at the next level? I will say that he absolutely has the closing speed to go from 0 to 100 in a matter of seconds, which helps mask some of his instinctual deficiencies.

One of my concerns with him here is his pad level and inconsistent open field tackling. When he goes in for the kill shot, he is a bit out of control and the ball carrier can sidestep him, or he relies on his play strength to keep him afloat, but he will get trucked like this at the next level as well if he continues to play with this kind of pad level.

In addition, he is not yet advanced in his wrap-up technique as an open field tackler. Sure, you can rely on your physicality and play strength at the FCS level, but in the NFL, he needs to learn when and how to wrap up the ball carrier on a consistent basis.  I do give him credit in that he does try to break down on these missed tackles, but he either lunges too early, too late, or his body position is not where it is supposed to be.

The inconsistency in Killebrew’s play speed is weird because the numbers at the Combine show a fairly explosive athlete, but he too often finds himself almost in a daze. I’m not sure if he is reading the play slowly like he’s frozen in time (enter an Elsa meme here) or he is just second-guessing himself sometimes because it looks like he has to rely mostly on his closing speed to get himself in position. Where you also see even more of this inconsistency is when he doesn’t always give full effort. I wrote down in my notes that he looks like a cheetah, but plays like a turtle at times. He does have certain splash plays that show the “cheetah-like” athleticism he has, but that is only when he is able to see it and react accordingly. On the contrary in that if he doesn’t see it, the “turtle” plays outweigh the “cheetah” plays. As a result, you will get something similar to these two clips.

This may seem like a “throw away” play for many, but again, I see a player who is slow to read the play developing in front of him. Once his eyes see what is going on, he does have some quickness after his initial reaction, but to succeed on a consistent basis at the next level, he needs to trust his eyes instead of either second-guessing himself or relying on his closing speed altogether. Again, it just seems like he is late to everything.

This is a harder play to judge because it was a tricky kind of situation for him in that he didn’t know if it was an option or pass, but I see a late reaction out of him, which is common as it goes hand in hand with reading the play, but once he does react, he can get there in a quick manner because of his closing speed, which is also on display here as well. If he wasn’t late in his reactions as much, we’d be talking about a different, more consistent player here, but I can also bring up the point that if he is brought into the right situation, he can definitely speed up this type of processing.

Here is a play where Killebrew shows some initial patience and deciphers the play well to put himself in position to make the open field tackle as the last line of defense. He does attempt his lunge a bit too early here, but was able to corral the ball carrier nonetheless. This goes back to his inconsistencies in his wrap-up technique. If he can stay in his rush lane, be under control, and play with sound, fundamental wrap-up technique, he will be on his way to becoming a more consistent open field tackler.

I do think Killebrew gets an unfair knock by some for his lack of man coverage ability and ball skills because from what I have seen, they are definitely serviceable. He needs to trust his eyes and instincts over his feet in Zone, but when playing in man coverage, he is strong at the POA, finds the ball well, and has a wide catching radius to either intercept or bat down the football. In addition, he has the speed and fluidity to run vertical with these receivers as well.

This is the part of the game where I think Killebrew can make a major impact when he steps into the league. He had two blocked kicks last year, and with his athleticism and physicality, I could a special teams coordinator pounding the table for him on Day 3. This added bonus is what will get him more fans in NFL war rooms, but it doesn’t change the inconsistencies he has at all levels of the game on defense.

For as big, physical, and athletic of a specimen Miles Killebrew is, I wanted to see “it” with his tape, but I just couldn’t, especially not at the level of where some media analysts project him on Day 2. I think his ball skills and man coverage ability fly a bit under the radar as he is considered a box safety, but unless he is able to trust his eyes and react quicker to the play developing in front of him, his play speed will remain mediocre, which will ultimately result in an inconsistent career as a pro. Fortunately for Killebrew, he has the tools that are worth developing because he COULD be a stud under the right coaching and circumstances, but I am not willing to take on a project like him for his current price-tag. He has those flash plays that make you think he can be a legitimate difference maker at the next level, but it almost feels like you are trying to catch lightning in a bottle if you draft him with those kind of expectations because of the amount of his inconsistencies on that side of the ball. I think a special teams coordinator will absolutely pound the table for him in the 5th or 6th round if available, but I think that if you want him, you’re going to have to get him on Day 2, which is far too expensive for a player that needs a ton of development.

Grade: 5th/6th Round