Scouting The 2017 NFL Draft: Xavier Woods, S, Louisiana Tech

Introduction

Hometown: West Monroe, Louisiana

High School: West Monroe High School

Recruitment: 3 Star

Class: Senior

Awards:

2016 Conference USA First Team

2016 Jim Thorpe Award Watch List

2015 Conference USA First Team

2014 Conference USA First Team

Measurables

Height: 5'11

Weight: 219lb's

Projected 40 Time: 4.58

Stats

2016: 81 tackles, 6.5 tackles for a loss, 3 sacks, 6 passes broke up, 5 interceptions

2015: 56 tackles, 7.5 tackles for a loss, 3 passes broken up, 3 interceptions, 2 forced fumbles

2014: 71 tackles, 3.5 tackles for a loss, 1 sack, 3 forced fumbles, 7 passes broken up, 6 interceptions

2013: 61 tackles, 3.0 tackles for a loss, 2 passes broken up

Positives

• Highly productive college player

• Makes game changing plays on the ball. Great hands

• Lines up everywhere. Slot, deep and up at the line.

• Good straight line speed. Good recovery speed.

• Good instincts for the position, plays fast.

• Sorts through traffic well and takes good angles to the ball.

• Disguises his pass rush well.

• Always got his head on a swivel, eyes on the QB.

Negatives

• Does have a tendency to over pursue and run himself out of plays.

• Needs to be more consistent wrapping up in the open field.

• Can struggle to get off blocks on occasions.

• Needs to work on his coverage against double moves.

• Struggles against faster receivers (See Western Kentucky Game 2016)

Conclusion

You know I like my safeties, and there is a lot to like about Xavier. He came in as a CB prospect and that has allowed him to be versatile at the college level. He will need to work on his coverage, as I've seen several plays where he was burned on double moves and lost his receiver downfield. I love his awareness to make plays on the ball, and his ability to sort through traffic at the line. You never want to take a players aggressive speed away from him, but several times in evaluation, I noticed him running past the play. He's not a first round talent, but his ability to move around and play different positions while making plays on the ball will get him drafted soon enough. Woods is a guy I'd really like the Jets to take a long hard look at.

Draft Round Prediction: 3rd-4th Round