Derwin James

in our view

A moveable chess piece with experience at safety, linebacker and cornerback, James might just be the most versatile defender in the 2018 NFL draft. He offers a combination of instincts, athleticism and prototypical size that scouts will find alluring, earning an early first round grade - perhaps even a spot in the top 10.

scouts will also have to weigh in the fact that james' best season - at least from a statistical standpoint - came three years ago and that he does come with some durability concerns after missing virtually the entire 2016 season with a torn meniscus and opting to sit out the 2017 independence bowl to avoid the risk of injury after announcing his decision to enter the draft with two years of eligibility remaining.

-- Rob Rang.

strengths

James boasts a prototypical build for a modern day safety with broad shoulders, long arms, a tapered middle and an athletic, well-distributed musculature. He is a slippery and sudden athlete, with impressive stop-start quickness and very good closing speed, traits which show up not only on defense but when he has the ball in his hands as a kick returner or after turnovers, including a pick-six in 2017. James possesses excellent spatial awareness, deftly avoiding would-be blockers and taking sharp, aggressive angles to cut the field for runners and passers, alike. He flashes explosive collision power to be an intimidating force across the middle and is a generally reliable open-field tackler, using his long arms and excellent hand strength to latch onto and drag ball-carriers to the ground, ripping at the ball as other defenders arrive on the scene. James is an instinctive defender who anticipates route combinations and is willing to take risks to undercut receivers and attack the line of scrimmage on quick screens or runs to the perimeter, while maintaining his gap and last-line-of-the-defense responsibilities. He explodes off the ball as a blitzer, showing excellent initial quickness, agility to avoid blockers and the closing speed to get home. Excellent timing on his leaps, showing explosiveness and body control to contort in space and compete for 50-50 balls. - Rob Rang 12/9/2017

compares to

Hall of Famer Mel Renfro, Cowboys. Scouts are enamored with James' upside in large part due to his prototypical size, sheer athleticism and playmaking instincts. Renfro used a similar blend of traits to earn 10 Pro Bowl trips, showing the kind of position versatility (safety, cornerback, kick returner and punt returner) James demonstrated with the Seminoles.

weaknesses

At times James played tentatively in 2017, appearing the shake the rust off after missing much of the 2016 season with a knee injury. He is more athletic than technically sound as an open-field tackler with some notable misses (North Carolina State-2017, Houston-2015) on games viewed, too often resorting to grab and drag down 'rassling rather than the textbook hit-lift-drive. He will occasionally make the mistake of hesitating and getting flat-footed, allowing patient ball-carriers to set him up and forcing James to lunge. Though he possesses good enough ball skills to earn snaps as a kick returner, James intercepted just three passes among his 17 career pass breakups with a couple of drops. James could do a better job of hustling downfield, too often banking on his teammates making tackles rather than always pursuing with passion. -- Rob Rang 12/9/2017

Consensus top defensive back in the nation and a five-star recruit in the 2015 class

committed to the Seminoles in 2012

rated the nation’s No. 1 safety by ESPN, Rivals, 247Sports and Scout

ranked the No. 5 player in the country and Florida’s top safety prospect by Rivals

rated the nation’s No. 4 overall player and the second-best prospect in Florida by 247Sports

ranked the sixth-best player in the country by Scout and No. 8 in the ESPN300

starred at safety in the 2015 Under Armour All-America Game where he led Team Highlight to a 46-6 victory

had 94 tackles and four interceptions in eight games for Haines City High School in 2014

added 11 receptions for 181 yards and two scores on offense

captured 2014 American Family Insurance All-USA Football Second Team honors and All-Florida First Team accolades

2014 Florida All-State Class 7A First Team selection

selected Florida State over offers from Auburn, Clemson, Florida and Miami.

Born August 3, 1996

majoring in sport management.

2017

2016

2015