DKphin
Club Member
[video=youtube;rqZ8R5VhxAM]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rqZ8R5VhxAM[/video]
156.S Dion Bailey, Southern California 6'0" 201
156.S Dion Bailey, Southern California 6'0" 201
http://www.nfldraftscout.com/ratings/dsprofile.php?pyid=105017&draftyear=2015&genpos=FS12/23/13 - Dion Bailey declared his intentions to enter the 2014 NFL Draft on Monday, becoming the first of several NFL-ready USC juniors to announce their plans for next season. Bailey was a three-year starter for the Trojans defense, alternating between outside linebacker and safety. The redshirt junior mostly played safety under defensive coordinator Clancy Pedergast in 2013, leading the team in interceptions (5) while recording 61 tackles and 6.5 tackles for loss. Bailey was named to the All-Pac-12 second team by the league's coaches earlier this month.
According to the school, Bailey -- a policy, planning and development major -- has already earned his degree. NFL scouts are expecting announcements from several notable draft-eligible USC players in the coming weeks, including wide receiver Marqise Lee, cornerback Josh Shaw, linebacker Hayes Pullard, defensive end George Uko and center Marcus Martin. The Trojans finished the 2013 season with a 10-4 record after the 45-20 win against Fresno State in the New Mexico Bowl on Saturday. It was only the second 10-win season since 2008 and first USC bowl win since 2009. - Chip Patterson, CBSSports.com
http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/1737140/dion-baileySTRENGTHS: Lanky, athletic hybrid defender with extensive starting experience at outside linebacker and safety. Very good diagnosis skills. Reads the action quickly and is rarely out of position. Experience in the box shows as he is comfortable in traffic, showing very good awareness and vision to weave through the trash to get to the ball. Unselfish defender. Frequently takes out the legs of oncoming blockers, leaving teammates to make the easy tackle and occasionally wiping out the blockers and the ballcarrier, by himself. Quick, short backpedal and good fluidity in his hips to change directions. Accelerates smoothly and has good speed, overall. Good body control and hands for the interception (11 over his career). Durable. Missed one game due to injury in three seasons as a starter.
WEAKNESSES: Size limitations will force Bailey to convert to a more traditional safety role in the NFL, a position he only started one season while with the Trojans (2013). Relies more on instincts and technique than physicality. Falls off too many tackles as he attempts to grab and pull ballcarriers to the ground rather than consistently driving through them. Missed spring of 2013 while recuperating from shoulder surgery following the 2012 season.
COMPARES TO: Eric Weddle, San Diego Chargers - It remains to be seen if Bailey can handle the transition to the NFL as well as the Chargers' All-Pro safety, but like Weddle at Utah, Bailey's instincts, fluidity and penchant for big plays made him a consistent and versatile difference-maker at the collegiate level.