SS, Keith Fitzhugh, Mississippi St.

SS, Keith Fitzhugh, Mississippi St.

Pros:  Adequate height and solid muscular build for a strong safety. ... Plays near the line often, attacking plays like a linebacker. Fares well in the deep half. ... Very reliable tackler who can break down in space or close quickly.

Cons:  Is not a stout strong safety in the Bob Sanders mold but doesn't fit anywhere else in the defensive backfield.

Styg's Broncos Fit:  Another versatile tweener limited by tight hips and marginal feet.  Not quite enough range to be a lone threat in the backfield, but is a solid line of defense and a secure tackler.  His explosiveness is good, but his athleticism should limit him to a strong-safety role in run support.  His experience at corner and a solid zone background could make him a great depth target.

Around MHR:

Around SBNation:

From "Drafting for the Future" at Turf Show Times:

He has decent but not great size but is a maximum effort player and stands out on game film. Has great instincts but has average or slightly below average speed. However he plays faster than he times or looks and can surpise you. Would be a valuable run stopper/special teams player who could possibly be a 6th round pick due to his size and speed.

Highlights:

More Highlights.

Scouting Reports and Offsite Links:

• Possesses a strong, well-built frame with good overall muscle tone and girth in his lower body. Does a nice job breaking down and wrapping up in space. A former corner with good ball skills and awareness down the field. Has the ability to play the center field-type role. Possesses good straight-line speed and range. Displays smooth footwork and balance in and out of his breaks. Natural in man and zone coverage.  [see more...]
• He's very active and has a quick trigger to come up and fit vs. the run. About as sure a tackler as you'll find, played extremely hard. Made a couple mistakes in coverage and doesn't appear to be as instinctive against the pass, but has a lot of tools to work with and showed tremendous potential. Great on Special Teams.  [see more...]
• Fitzhugh began his college career as a cornerback for the Bulldogs, but found his home at strong safety as a sophomore. He stayed there through his senior year, when he made 50 tackles, 2.5 for loss and two interceptions. His all-around game and toughness will earn him a shot in the NFL on defense and special teams. Switched his jersey from #1 to #22 for the game against Southeastern Louisiana after teammate Jamar Chaney went down with injury early in 2008; he switched back to continue his tribute to his deceased sister.   [see more...]