Scouting The 2013 NFL Draft: Kenny Vaccaro, FS, Texas

Introduction

Kenny is considered the top safety in this years draft, and he may be the only safety that is taken in the first round. He is a four year defensive back who finished his career at Texas with an impressive 26 consecutive starts. Born and raised in Texas, you could say that football is in his blood - his uncle A.J Johnson won a Superbowl with the Redskins. Nominated as a team captain going into 2012, he was placed on the watch list of the Nagurski Trophy, Bednarik Award and Thorpe Award. He competed and excelled at the 2013 Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama.

Here are a few personal details about Kenny:

During pregame, I like to: Listen to Lil Wayne
Favorite TV channel: MTV
Favorite TV show: Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
I can't believe I watch: The Hills
Favorite actor: Will Smith
Sports hero: Devin Hester
Favorite superhero: Iron Man
Favorite CD: "Tha Carter III" by Lil Wayne
Favorite video game: Halo
Favorite cartoon character: Ninja Turtles
Nobody knows I can: Write

Measurables

Height: 6'0

Weight: 214 lb's

Arms: 32 3/4"

Hands: 10"

40 Yard: 4.63

Bench: 15 Reps

Vertical: 38"

Broad: 121"

3 Cone: 6.78 seconds

20 yard shuttle: 4.06 seconds (Top Performer)

Statistics

Positives

Kenny has all the potential to play deep in coverage in the cover 2 or up at the line against the run. Has good upper body strength and good body control. Will run quicker at his pro day, and has very smooth change of direction. Has good speed to cover the slot and plays physical with running backs and tight ends. Outside of the physical attributes that he has, he has an excellent football IQ. Takes good angles and has excellent play recognition and vision to close the holes in run support. Very smooth in his backpedal and when you add this with the loose hips and change of direction ability, makes him very impressive in coverage. Very aggressive and physical at the line and can blitz off the edge. Doesn't always knock the player out like Landry, but will rips receivers, running backs trying to block him and he has the ability in the open field to be a reliable last line of defense. Does possess good closing speed that wasn't necessarily evident in Indy.

Negatives

He has a couple of marks on his record, getting arrested in 2009 for fighting with another Texas student and again in 2012 for failing to comply with a lawful order - lets not get carried away, they sound worse than what they probably were and by all accounts he is a good guy. Hasn't been the ball hawk that he should have been in Texas, often a little hesitant in jumping a route that is there to be jumped. Can sometimes be a little over aggressive in run support.

Conclusion

Kenny is rightfully going to be the first safety to be taken in the 2013 NFL draft, but I don't believe the gap between him and someone like Cyprien is as big as some think. Don't get me wrong he is an impressive player, but I think the value with the safety class is in rounds 2-4 rather than in the first with Kenny. He looked a lot quicker on tape than he did running in Indy, and he'll look to run faster at his pro day.

Would i draft him for the Jets?

In the first round? No! I don't think he represents value there as I don't think he is an elite talent in this draft. The gap between him and the second tier of safeties is minute in my opinion. He'll go between 15-25 in the draft and that's about right but I don't think the Jets should get in the mix for Kenny. If he somehow landed in our laps in the 2nd round (which I don't see happening at all) then he would definitely be worth the punt.

Highlights