Kyle Dugger, S, Lenior-Rhyne
Listed at 6-foot-1, 217 pounds, the small-school safety continued his draft process rise putting up 17 reps on the bench, jumping 42 inches, and posting a 4.49 40 yard dash at the Scouting Combine.
Duggard has good size for the position with long arms to match. He possess patient feet and does not panic when in coverage, and also is quick to come downhill and fill alleys. He has a knack for working his way through the trash to get to the ball carrier and one can see he trusts his athleticism and length to make plays.
Duggard has the speed to be rangy in the back end but must improve on the angles he takes to the ball at times. With his recent rise, Duggard could end up sneaking his way into the first round but for the Cowboys team he could be a trade up option from pick No. 51 or an option at the end of Round 1 if they were to trade back. Duggard finished 31 tackles, two interceptions, and four passes defended.
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What the experts say:
It’s rare to find a safety with elite size, speed, explosiveness and production at a Power 5 school and almost impossible to find one at a Division II school. Dugger crammed the stat sheet full and used those elite traits to dominate the opposition. At times, he seems bored with his level of competition, but his engagement can be instant and urgent when it needs to be. He plays with controlled violence and carries an alpha demeanor on the field. He has soft hands and is rangy, but needs to train his eyes and improve his fundamentals before he’s coverage-ready. Dugger is a versatile, scheme-friendly safety who helps immediately on special teams and could develop into a talented NFL starter.
The debate with Kyle Dugger lies with where he’s best implemented. A bit of a tweener, Dugger is at his best in instances where he’s tasked with rallying to the football. There’s a terrific skill set to work with, mold and develop at the next level but Dugger is an elite athlete who entering the league would benefit from a “find the football” role. Likely puts him on the field as a WILL to start but his dynamic athleticism and stature project best as a developmental SS and special teams ace.